NATURALISTS 01' THE MOO.V. 267 



ilcent, most extousive and most costly work of Andwboii, l)iit to wliuli 

 Bafliman also largely contributed of his rich stores of Ornithological 

 science. 



TITR NATURALISTS OF TIIK MOON. 

 ( A Fragment of learneil correspondence. ) 



My dear Drocer : — I am devoutly rejoiced, that 1 have so far re- 

 covered from my recent illness, as to be able to answer your many kind 

 inquiries relative to my late travels. I commenced my hazardous 

 journey to the great Light Earth, in the 9703Gih month. You have 

 heard, through my official report, the particulars of that excursion ; and, 

 it only remains for me to mention a few incidents, which, as they more 

 especially concerned myself, may find pardon for their mention in our 

 mutual friendship. 



The first thing which struck me on arriving at Earth, was an animal, 

 which though smaller, bore a strong resemblance to our great Woe, and 

 actually gave forth a white fluid somewhat like the nutritions klim. — 

 The two-legged creatures, which I have termed Emhosin in my report, 

 were taking it through a process, which was much like our milking. 

 All anxiety, I seized a cake of the apparent cheese and ate it eagerly, 

 for I had then been fasting sometime ; but bitterly did I repent, for the 

 vile stulT emitted such an unpleasant effluvium, that I was thrown into 

 violent convulsions ; and, owing to some particles of this which yet re- 

 main in my system, it is that my health is now so bad. — But I have en- 

 tertained you long enough with myself, and I will no longer withliold 

 from your philosophic ear, such things as may prove more acceptable. 



In nothing was I more interested, during my sojourn upon earth, 

 than in watching the movements of the two-legged animals, of which I 

 have spoken. They seem to have chief power on earth, and sometimes 

 would almost make one believe they were endowed with intellects 

 such as ours, though weaker in degree. Indeed, during my stay among 

 them, 1 observed signs and sounds by which, I have not the least doubt, 

 they communicate thought. 



One of their classes, (genus Omho — Species Setneduts) is especially 

 interesting. 1 cannot pretend to enter into full detail of all my obser- 

 vations upon them, but shall merely confine myself to a few particulars, 

 promising, at some future period, to renew the subject. 



They usually live together in colonies, though I have met with some 

 .ill alone-, but, wherever found, they bear certain almost invariable 

 marks. Thoy walk with elevated heads, and have an expression of the 



