UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 313 



D'Azara says that it is of an agreeable musky odour, though he 

 admits that the food of the animal, or other circumstances, may af- 

 fect its sensible qualities. 



Bewick says, "that although the European Hog is common in 

 America, and in many parts has become wild, yet the Pecary has 

 never been known to breed with it. 11 "The Pecary is very prolific." * 

 This is contradicted by D'Azara, who says, that the female produces 

 her young once a year, and but two at a time.f 



"The Pecary and the Warree,' 1 says Captain Henderson, "are 

 animals of the Hog kind. The former is the S^ls Tnjassu of Lin- 

 naeus, or the Tajassu of other naturalists. On the back of this ani- 

 mal is placed a glandulous orifice, which has furnished a very com- 

 mon belief, that in this part of it the navel is situated. The flesh of 

 the Pecary is considered particularly good, either fresh or salted ; 

 but on killing it, if the glands just mentioned be not instantly re- 

 moved, the whole carcass becomes tainted with the most noxious and 

 fetid odour. The latter animal has not been so particularly described. 

 It has been denominated the Hog of the isthmus of Darien ; and an 

 opinion has been suggested, that it may only be the European Hog run 

 wild. Both Pecary and the Warree usually go in large bodies; 

 and at such times it is not considered at all safe to wound or kill any 

 of the party, by firing on them, unless a retreat or place of security 

 be nigh : for those, which remain unhurt, commonly attack the of- 

 fender in the most desperate way. The approach of these animals 

 may be heard in the woods at a great distance, by the loud and cla- 

 morous noise they continually make ; and like the domestic Hog, it 

 is asserted that they destroy and eat snakes and reptiles of different 

 kinds." J 



ORNITHOLOGY. . . The European naturalists, particularly Buffon in 

 his far-famed Oiscaux, have attempted to give an account of the Birds 

 of North America. But their works evince such a want of correct 

 information, or prejudice, or both, that the American reader who 

 takes them up with the expectation of amusement or improvement, 

 will be apt to find himself miserably disappointed ; and will turn with 

 indifference or disgust from pages that generally exhibit merely a 

 dry detail of specific particulars, or what is worse, that are polluted 

 with injurious misrepresentations^ the offspring of ignorance or 

 folly. 



From the extent of this immense continent, so distinguished by 

 a variety of soil and climate, it is reasonable to conclude that a 

 rich harvest would reward the labours of him who should zealously 

 engage in the study of its natural history. In Europe, though now 

 grown gray in the arts and sciences, yet still retaining the pristine 

 vigour and inquisitiveness of youth, much had been done in this in- 

 teresting class - of animals. But it seemed reserved for America 

 to set the first example of a work, combining elegance of typogra- 

 phical execution and graphical illustration, with accuracy of detail, 



* Bewick's Quadrupeds. 



f Histoire Naturelie des Quadrupeds de la Province du Paraguay, par Don 

 Felix D'Azara, tome i, p. 38. Paris, 1801. 



J Henderson's Honduras, p. 97. 



| We are free to explain, thatit is principally against the Count de Buffon 

 that our censures are directed. It gives us pleasure to learn that the dog- 

 mata of this vain aud whimsical philosopher.have lost much of that regard 

 which an imposing name has contributed to attract. 



