88 NATtTRAL HISTORY 



tory in March last, when it was enough 

 awakened to express its resentments by 

 hissing ; and, packing it in a box with 

 earth, carried it eighty miles in post chaises. 

 The rattle and hurry of the journey so per- 

 fectly roused it, that, when I turned it out 

 on a border, it walked twice down to the 

 bottom of my garden : however, in the 

 evening, the weather being cold, it buried 

 itself in the loose mould, and continues still 

 concealed. 



As it will be under my eye, I shall now 

 have an opportunity of enlarging my ob- 

 servations on its mode of life, and propen- 

 sities; and perceive already that, towards 

 the time of coming forth, it opens a breath- 

 ing 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 

 middle 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 



