312 THE PHILOSOPHY 



with much art and precaution. With their feet and claws, which 

 are admirably adapted to the purpofe, they dig the earth with ama- 

 zing quicknefs, and throw it behind them. They do not make a 

 fimple hole, or a ftraight or winding tube, but a kind of gallery in 

 the form of a Y, each branch of which has an aperture, and both 

 terminate in a capacious apartment, where feveral of the animals 

 lodge together. As the whole operation is performed on the decli- 

 vity of a mountain, this innermoft apartment is alone horizontal. 

 Both branches of the Y are inclined. One of the branches defcends 

 under the apartment, and follows the declivity of the mountain. 

 This branch is a kind of aquedud, and receives and carries off the 

 excrements of the animals ; and the other, which rifes above the 

 principal apartment, is ufed for coming in and going out. The place 

 of their abode is well lined with mofs and hay, of which they lay 

 up great (lore during the fummer. They are focial animals. Se- 

 veral of them live together, and work in common when forming 

 their habitations. Thither they retire during rain, or upon the ap- 

 proach of danger. One of them ftands centinel upon a rock, while 

 the others gambol upon the grafs, or are employed in cutting it, in 

 order to make hay. If the centinel perceives a man, an eagle, a 

 dog, or other dangerous animal, he alarms his companions by a loud 

 whiftle, and is himfelf the laft that enters the hole. As they conti- 

 nue torpid during winter, and, as if they forefaw that they would 

 then have no occafion for viduals, they lay up no provifions in their 

 apartments. But, when they feel the firft approaches of the Deep- 

 ing feafon, they fhut up both paflages to their habitation ; and thi^ 

 operation they perform with fuch labour and folidity, that it is more 

 eafy to dig the earth any where elfe than in fuch parts as they have 

 tlius fortified. At this time they are very fat, weighing fometimes 

 twenty pounds. They continue to be plump for three months; but 

 afterwards they gradually decline, and, at the end of winter, they 

 are extremely emaciated. When feized in their retreats, they appear 



rolled 



