M
lIlM
16 z N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y
When one reflefts on the ftate of this ftrange being, it is a
matter of wonder to find that Providence fhould beftow fuch a
profufion of days, fuch a feeming wafte of longevity, on a reptile
that appears to relilh it fo little as to fquander more than two thirds
of it’s exiftence in a joylefs ftupor, and be loft to all fenfation for
months together in the profoundeft of flumbers.
While I was writing this letter, a moift and warm afternoon,
with the thermometer at 50, brought forth troops of Jhell-fnailsi
and, at the fame juncture, the tortoife heaved up the mould and. put
out it’s head ; and the next morning came forth, as it were raifed
from the dead; and walked about till four in the afternoon. This
was a curious coincidence ! a very amufing occurrence ! to fee
fuch a fimilarity of feelings between the two pEfsomoi! for fo the'
Greeks called both the Jhell-fnail and the tortoife.
Summer birds are, this cold and backward fpring, unufually
late : I have feen but one fwallow yet. This conformity with
the weather convinces me more and more that they fleep in the
winter.
is 111
L E T T E R
L E T T E R LI.
TO T H E S A M E .
SELBORNE, Sept. 3, 1781.
I H A V E n o w r e a d y o u r m i f c e l la n i e s t h r o u g h w i th m u c h c a r e a n d
f a d s f a & io n ; a n d am t o r e t u r n y o u m y b e f t th a n k s f o r t h e h o n o u r a
b l e m e n t io n m a d e in t h em o f m e as a n a t u r a l i f t , w h i c h 1 w i lh I
may deferve. _ ■ .
In fome former letters I exprefled my fufpicions that many ot
the houfe-martins do not depart in the winter far from this village.
I therefore determined to make fome fearch about the fouth-eaft
end- of the hill, where I imagined they might {lumber out the.
uncomfortable months of winter. But fuppofing.that the examination
would be made to the beft advantage in the fP«nS> a“d;
obferving that no martins had appeared by the n th of April S g |
on that day I employed fome men to explore the Ihrubs and cavities
of the fufpedted fpot. The perfons took pains, but without
any fuccefs; however, a remarkable incident occurred g the
midft of our purfuit— while the labourers were at work a houfe-
martin the firft that had been feen this year, came down the
villaa-e’ in the fight of feveral people, and went at once into a
neft,&where it ftayed a Ihort time, and then flew over the houfes;
for fome days after no martins were obferved, not till the 1 6th of
April, and then only a pair. Martins in general were remarkab y.
late this year.