OBSERVATIONS ON VEGETABLES. 351 



must be blind, and feel itself in an awkward, uneasy 

 situation. — Wh ite. 



I have seen many sloughs or skins of snakes entire, after 

 they have cast them oflf; and once in particular I remember 

 to have found one of these sloughs so intricately interwoven 

 amongst some brakes that it was with diflficulty removed 

 without being broken ; this undoubtedly was done by the 

 creature to assist in getting rid of its encumberance. 



I have great reason to suppose that the eft or common 

 lizard also casts its skin or slough, but not entire like the 

 snake ; for on the 30th March 1777 I saw one with some- 

 thing ragged hanging to it, which appeared to be part of its 

 old skin. — Markwick. 



OBSERVATIONS ON VEGETABLES. 



TREES, ORDER OF LOSING THEIR LEAVES. 



One of the first trees that becomes naked is the walnut ; 

 the mulberry, the ash, especially if it bears many keys, and 

 the horse-chestnut come next. All lopped trees, while 

 their heads are young, carry their leaves a long while. 

 Apple-trees and peaches remain green very late, often till 

 the end of November : young beeches never cast their 

 leaves till spring, till the new leaves sprout and push them 

 off; in the autumn the beechen-leaves turn of a deep 

 chestnut colour. Tall beeches cast their leaves about the 

 end of October. 



