406 
JOURNEY ACROSS THE 
[IMS. 
the tree on purpose to examine this phenomenon in 
nature. The roof was neatly thatched, and a hollow 
in the middle to contain the owl, but no passage 
leading to the inside. I had no way to examine the 
apartments within, without destroying a great part 
of the nest, which would have been a cruel operation> 
wherefore I left it in the same state in which I found 
it, contented with taking a drawing of the tree and the 
two nests. Thermometer at noon, 84. 
I was for some time surprised how^ such multitudes 
of lizards and mice, as inhabit the desart, could live 
without water, but I observed many succulent plants, 
of various kinds, hanging full of small berries con- 
taining water. I poured out of one large berry about 
three tea spoonfuls of water, and I witnessed the mice 
dragging them into their holes, just as seamen take 
casks of water into their ships. This is a wonderful 
provision God has njade to supply the wants of these 
little animals. 
. I gently threw a small stone at a lizard, without 
any intention to hurt it, which struck off its tail ; the 
tail leaped about for five minutes, and moved, some- 
thing like a serpent, to three yards distant. The poor 
lizard, as well as myself, stood wondering at this 
exhibition. When I mentioned this circumstance to 
our Hottentots, they informed me, that like serpents, 
after their heads are cut off, they live until the going 
down of the sun. 
