C 532 3 
lively as it did before; and thus it continues till the 
great Work of putting off the old Skin is to be per- 
formed. It begins this Work by loofening with its 
fore Feet the Skin about its Jaws (which, when 
open, are wider than any Part of its own Body) and 
pufnes it backward gently and gradually both above 
and below the Head, till it is able to flip out firft 
one Leg, and then the other ,* which when it has 
done, it proceeds to thruft the Skin backwards as 
far as thefe Legs can reach; it is then obliged to 
rub its Body againft Pebbles, Gravel, or whatever elfe 
it can meet with, till more than half its Body is 
freed from the Skin, which appears doubled back, 
and covering the hinder Part of the Body and the 
Tail. When the Bufinefs is thus far done, the Ani- 
mal, turning its Head round to meet its Tail, takes 
hold of the Skin with its Mouth, and fetting its Feet 
thereon, by degrees pulls it quite off, the hind Legs 
being drawn out as the fore ones were before. 
If the Skin be then examined it will be found 
with its Infide outwards, but not having the leaft 
Hole or Breach ; that Part which cover'd the hind 
Legs feeming like Gloves that are turned without 
pulling out the Tips of the Fingers, tho’ intirely per- 
fed and unbroken. The Coverings of the fore Legs 
remain within the Skin. They do not however put 
off the Coverings of their Eyes along with the Skin, 
as fome Snakes are found to do; for the Skin of 
this little Creature has always two Holes at the Places 
where the Eyes have been. 
It is very entertaining to obferve it whilfl: engaged 
in this neceflary Work, which fometimes takes up 
near 
