6 
TORTOISE. 
remained unfinished. Harsher weather, and frosty 
mornings, would have quickened its operations. 
No part of its behaviour ever struck me more than 
the extreme timidity it always expresses with regard 
to rain ; for though it has a shell that would secure 
it against the wheel of a loaded cart, yet does it dis- 
cover as much solicitude about rain as a lady dressed 
in all her best attire, shuffling away on the first 
sprinklings, and running its head up in a corner. 
If attended to, it becomes an excellent weather- 
glass ; for as sure as it walks elate, and as it were 
on tiptoe, feeding with great earnestness in a morn- 
ing, so sure will it rain before night. It is totally a 
diurnal animal, and never pretends to stir after it 
becomes dark. 
“ The tortoise, like other reptiles, has an arbitrary 
stomach, as well as lungs, and can refrain from 
eating, as well as breathing, for a great part of the 
year. I was much taken with its sagacity in 
discerning those that do it kind offices ; for as soon 
as the good old lady comes in sight who has waited 
on it for more than thirty years, it hobbles towards 
its benefactress with awkward alacrity ; bnt remains 
inattentive to strangers. Thus, not only (( the ox 
knoweth his owner , and the ass his master's crib," but 
the most abject and torpid of beings distinguishes 
the hand that feeds it, and is touched with the feel- 
ings of gratitude. This creature not only goes under 
the earth from the middle of November to the mid- 
dle of April, but sleeps great part of the summer ; 
for it goes to bed in the longest days at four in the 
