^84 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



thefe arches, fecure their arcades againftthe winds, 

 and decorate them mod beautifully, by oppofing 

 to their foliage other foliages, and to their verdure 

 garlands of glolTy flowers, or pods of various co-r 

 lours. If a tree, wafted by age, happens to fall 

 down, Nature, which univerfally haftens on the 

 deftrudioii of all ufelefs beings, covers it's trunk 

 with maiden-hair of the moft beautiful green, and 

 agarics undulated with yellow, faffron, and purple, 

 which feed on it's fpoils. 



Toward the fea fide, the turf which borders the 

 ifland, is up and down fowed with thickets of la- 

 tanier, whofe palms, formed into a fan, and at- 

 tached to pliant membranes, radiate in the air, 

 like fo many verdant funs. Thefe lataniers ad- 

 vance even into the Sea, on the capes of the illand, 

 with the land fowls which inhabit them -, while the 

 fmall bays, fwarming with multitudes of fea-fowl 

 which fvvim in the water, and which are paved, if 

 I may be allowed the expreffion, with madrépores 

 of the colour of the peach-bloffom j the black 

 rocks covered with rofe-coloured nerits, and fhells 

 of every kind, penetrate into the illand, and refleâ-, 

 like fo many mirrors, all the objects of the Land 

 and of the Heavens. You would imagine that 

 you faw the birds flying in the water, and the 

 fiflies fwjmming among the trees, and you would 



be 



