10 VERTEBRATA. REPTILIA. 



sure will it rain before night. It is totally a diurnal 

 animal, and never pretends to stir after it becomes 

 dark. 



" I was much taken with its sagacity in discern- 

 ing those that do it kind offices ; for, as soon as the 

 good old lady comes in sight, who has waited on it 

 for more than thirty years, it hobbles towards its be- 

 nefactress with awkward alacrity, but remains inat- 

 tentive to strangers. Thus, not only ' the Ox know- 

 eth his owner, and the Ass his master's crib,' but the 

 most abject Reptile, and torpid of beings, distin- 

 guishes the hand that feeds it, and is touched with 

 the feelings of gratitude." 



Some time afterwards this Tortoise became Mr. 

 White's property, when he had an opportunity of 

 enlarging his observations. He adds, " Towards the 

 time of its coming forth it opens a breathing-place in 

 the ground near its head, requiring, I conclude, a 

 freer respiration as it becomes more alive. This 

 creature not only goes under the earth from the mid- 

 dle of November to the middle of April, but sleeps 

 great part of the summer ; for it goes to bed in the 

 longest days at four in the afternoon, and often does 

 not stir in the morning till late. Besides, it retires 

 to rest at every shower, and does not move at all in 

 wet days. 



" Though he loves warm weather, he avoids the 

 hot sun ; because his thick shell, when once heated, 

 would, as the poet says of solid armour, ' scald with 

 safety.' He, therefore, spends the more sultry hours 

 under the umbrella of a large cabbage-leaf, or amid 



