286 STUDIES OF NATURE, 



over the manners of the animals which frequen-e 

 them. We fhould then have a complete chapter 

 of that immenfe and fublime Hiftory of Nature, 

 the alphabet of which is hitherto unknown to us. 



I am fully convinced, that without fatigue, and 

 almoft without any trouble, difcoveries the moft 

 curious might be made ; were we to reftrict our 

 enquiries but to one fîngle compartiment, we 

 fhould difcover a multitude of the moft enchanting 

 harmonies. In order to enjoy fome imperfect 

 fketches of this kind, we muft have recourfe to 

 travellers. Our Ornithologifts, fettered by me- 

 thods and fyftem, only think of fwelling their ca- 

 talogue, and diftinguifh nothing in birds fave the 

 feet and the bill. It is not in the nefts that they 

 obferve them, but in hunting, and in their pouch. 

 They even confider the colours of their plumage 

 as accidents. It was not by chance, however, that 

 Nature, on the mores of Brafil, beftowed a beau- 

 tiful carnation colour, with a border of black, 

 on the extremity of the wings of the Ouara, a fpe- 

 cies of curlew, which inhabits the fea-green foliage 

 of the palétuvier, which grows in the bofom of 

 the waves, and bears no apparent flowers. The 

 Javia, another bird of the fame climate, is yellow 

 over the belly, with the reft of the plumage gray. 

 It is about the fize of a fparrow, and perches on 

 the pepper-plant, the flowers of which have no 



luftre, 



