XXVIU EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



The fquirrels are playing along the ftem, and among 

 the boughs of the fir ; and the female of the heath-cock 

 makes her neft in the mofs which covers the roots. Tlic 

 beavers, on the contrary, have built their habitation at the 

 foot of the birch ; and a bird of that fpecies which eats 

 the buds, is fluttering round the branches. The fir acco- 

 modates it's quadrupeds in it's boughs, and the birch finds 

 lodging for it's gueft upon it's roots. The habits of their 

 refpeélive birds are equally contrafted. Among all thefc 

 animals, however, the moft perfeâ: harmony fubfiils. The 

 dog is looking quietly at their different employments, and 

 expreffes, by the liftleffnefs of his attitude, the profound 

 peace which reigns among the inhabitants of this defert. 



At the entrance of a grotto formed in the fide of the 

 mountain, is reprefented a man bufied in carving a ftatue 

 of Minerva in the trunk of a tree. The figure of this 

 Goddefs, the fymbol of Divine Wlfdom, and the fubftance 

 out of which it is formed, here charafterize the Supreme 

 Intelligence manifefted in the harmony of vegetables. 

 This Philofopher is Philocles. His hiftory is to be found 

 in Telemachus, Books XIII. and XIV. 



ATLANTIC 



