210 The Naturalist in La Plata. 
who have made natural history a study, and who 
‘* pursue the investigations of her charming mysteries 
with ardour and delight.” This we can under- 
stand; but to what an astonishing degree the 
feeling was carried in him, when, after remarking 
that enthusiasm and excitement with regard to most 
things in life become lessened and_ eventually 
deadened by time in most of us, he was able to add, 
“not so, however, I believe, with those who take 
up the study of the Family of Humming-birds !” 
It can only be supposed that he regarded natural 
history principally as a ‘ science of dead animals— 
a necrology,’ and collected humming-birds just as 
others collect Roman coins, birds’ eggs, old weapons, 
or blue china, their zeal in the pursuit and faith in 
its importance increasing with the growth of their 
treasures, until they at last come to believe that 
though all the enthusiasms and excitements which 
give a zest to the lives of other men fade and perish 
with time, it is not so with their particular pursuit. 
The more rational kind of pleasure experienced 
by the ornithologist in studying habits and dis- 
position no doubt results in a great measure from 
the fact that the actions of the feathered people 
have a savour of intelligence in them. Whatever 
his theory or conviction about the origin of instincts 
may happen to be, or even if he has no convictions 
on the subject, it must nevertheless seem plain to 
him that intelligence is, after all, in most cases, the 
guiding principle of life, supplementing and modify- 
ing habits to bring them into closer harmony with 
the environment, and enlivening every day with 
countless little acts which result from judgment 
