216 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
rarely visit our island; and when they do, are wanderers and 
stragglers, and impelled to make so distant and northern an 
excursion from motives or accidents for which we are not able 
to account. One thing may fairly be deduced, that these 
birds come over to us from the Continent, since nobody can 
suppose that a species not noticed once in an age, and of such 
a remarkable make, can constantly breed unobserved in this 
kingdom. 
LETTER AA 
SELBORNE, April a2zst, 1780. 
. The old Sussex tortoise, that. I have mentioned to you so 
often, is become my property. I dug it out of its winter 
dormitory 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 perfectly 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 observations on its mode of life, and pro- 
pensities; and perceive already that, towards the time of 
coming forth, it opens a breathing 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 to rest for every shower; 
and does not move at all in wet days. 
Tn» ba 
