Letter L
To The Honourable Daines Barrington
Selborne, April 21, 1780.
Dear Sir,
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 propensities;
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.
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