l62 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



l( blows violently into the fhell, as into a trumpet, 

 " which emits a very fhrill found, and capable of 

 " being heard at a great diflance ; this is anfwered 

 M by the other, and being repeated as often as is 

 *' neceflary, they are eafily recovered from ftray- 

 " ing, and colle&ed at the point of departure, 

 *' Without fuch precautions, the traveller might 

 " be bewildered. 



" In this plain are many afpin-trees, and they 

 te are always green. Other trees are covered 

 i( with a mofs of more than a fathom in length 

 " around their trunk and large branches. They 

 " are withered, without foliage, and fo impreg- 

 " nated with moifture, that it is impoflible to 

 " make them take fire. \ï 3 with much difficulty, 

 *' you are able to kindle fome of the fmaller 

 " boughs, it is only a dark fire without flame, 

 " which emits a reddifh fmoke, that defiles the 

 " meat inftead of roafting it. You can hardly 

 ! c find a fpot in this plain on which to kindle a 

 " fire, unlefs by looking about for fome fmall ele- 

 " vation round the peaks; for the foil of the plain 

 " is fo humid, that the water every where fpouts 

 " out, fo that you are continually in mud, and 

 ** moiftened up to the calf of the leg. Great 

 " numbers of blue birds are to be feen there nefl- 

 " ling in the herbage, and among the aquatic 

 ** ferns. Tlus plain was unknown before the de- 



i( fertion 



