HISTORY OF VERMONT. 159 



The facts are justly stated, in several of their 

 accounts ; and they ought to have concluded 

 from them, that the soil was uncommonly rich, 

 fertile, and luxuriant. Anxious to find marks 

 of degradation in America, they have almost 

 universally advanced a contrary conclusion : 

 that this prolific power of nature, denoted an 

 uncommon corruption, and degradation of cli- 

 mate. No conclusion was ever further from, 

 the truth, or more remote from probability. It 

 is only a rich soil, and a temperate climate, 

 which can produce what they call a rank vegeta- 

 tion, or numerous reptiles and insects, of the 

 largest size. 



From this imperfect view of our quadrupeds, 

 birds, fishes, and insects, instead of finding na- 

 ture but weak and feeble in America, as M. de 

 Bufibn has supposed ;* her animals appear to 

 be marked with an energy, and a magnitude, 

 superior to what is found in Europe ; and 

 equalled only, by the magnificent and vigorous 

 productions of Asia, 



• " La nature vivante est beaucoup moins agitsantc bcaUcoup 

 ir,ojn» forte." Hist, Nat. xviii. laa. c<lit. Paris, J764. 



