214 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



the earlier ages of the World, with forefts which 

 were laid low by their firft inhabitants ; and that 

 they would refume their ancient clothing, though 

 now naked and defert, were the cattle to pafture 

 on them no longer. It is very remarkable, that 

 thofe elevated regions are (owed over with prickly 

 plants, juft as our heaths generally are. 



Don Gardas de Figtieroa, Ambaflador from Spain 

 at the Court of Cha-Abas, King of Perfia, relates, 

 in the account which he has given of his journey, 

 that the lofty mountains of Perfia, which he croffed, 

 and where the Turcomans are continually ftray- 

 ing, as they tend their fleecy charge, were covered 

 with a fpecies of thorny (hrub, which grew luxu- 

 riantly in the moll parched fituations. This fame 

 fhrubbery ferved as a retreat to a great number 

 of partridges. 



From this circumftance we take occafion to ob- 

 ferve, that Nature employs the birds, particularly, 

 to fow the thorny plants in places the fteepeft and 

 mod inacceffible. They are accuftomed to retire 

 thither in the night, and there depofit, with their 

 dung, the ftony feeds of the bramble-berry, of the 

 berry of the eglantine, of the barberry, and of 

 moft thorny fhrubs, which, from relations no lefs 

 wonderful, are indigeitible in their flomach. 



Birds 



