S14 HisToiiY or 



common retreat. Tliis also some give as a reason for the hair 

 being generally worn away on their backs, as is usually the case ; 

 however, a better reason for this may be assigned, from their 

 continually rooting up holes, and passing through narrow open- 

 ings. But be this as it will, certain it is that they all live together, 

 and work in common to make their habitation as snug and con- 

 venient as possible. In it they pass three parts of their lives ; 

 into it they retire when the storm is high ; in it they continue 

 while it rains ; there they remain when apprehensive of danger, 

 and never stir out except in fine weather, never going far from 

 home even then. Whenever they venture abroad, one is placed 

 as a sentinel, sitting upon a lofty rock, while the rest amuse 

 themselves in playing along green fields, or are employed incut- 

 ting the grass and making hay for their winter's convenience. 

 Their trusty sentinel, when an enemy, a man, a dog, or a bird 

 of prey approaches, apprises its companions with a whistle, 

 upon which they all make home, the sentinel himself bringing 

 up the rear. 



But it must not be supposed that this hay is designed for pro- 

 vision ; on the contrary, it is always found in as great plenty 

 in their holes at the end as at the beginning of winter ; it is only 

 sought for the convenience of their lodging, and the advantages 

 of their young. As to provision, they seem kindly apprised by 

 Nature that during the winter they shall not want any; so that they 

 make no preparations for food, though so diligently employed in 

 fitting up their abode. As soon as they perceive the first ap. 

 proaches of the winter, during which their vital motions are to con. 

 tinue in some measure suspended, they labour very diligently to 

 close up the two entrances of their habitation, which they effect 

 with such solidity, that it is easier to dig up the earth any 

 where else than where they have closed it. At that time they 

 are very fat, and some of them are found to weigh above twenty 

 pounds ; they continue so for even three months more ; 

 but by degrees their flesh begins to waste, and they are usually 

 very lean by the end of winter. When their retreat is opened, 

 the whole family is then discovered, each rolled into a ball, and 

 covered up under hay. In this state they seem entirely lifeless ; 

 they may be taken away, and even killed without their testifying 

 any great pain ; and those who find them in this manner, carry 

 them home, in order to breed up the young and eat the old ones. 



