24 MEMOIR OF 



when we consider his different circumstances and 

 education. " Amidst the memorable events, says 

 Walckenaer, " which distinguish the history of the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century, the peaceable 

 annals of science will not forget the sudden revolu- 

 tion which has been effected in our knowledge of 

 South America, and the names of Humboldt and 

 Azara will be placed at the head of this interesting 

 recital." For twenty years he was engaged in these 

 varied and noble pursuits, and to the results of his 

 labours we must now bespeak attention. Though 

 we may be able to produce but little concerning 

 Azara's personal history, yet if it be true that the 

 handiwork of the painter and sculptor may be ap- 

 pealed to as their memorials, surely with not less 

 justice we may direct attention to the patient in- 

 quiries and matured thoughts of the busy student of 

 Nature's works, and maintain that in them " he has 

 weaved for himself the wreath of his glory." 



We may here at once enumerate the works pub- 

 lished by Azara, which are more remarkable for 

 their importance than their number. The first were 

 two works, in his native tongue, on the natural 

 history of the Spanish provinces in South Ame- 

 rica, the former, in two volumes, on the Mammalia ; 

 and the latter, in three, devoted to Ornithology. 

 Several years afterwards, he published his other 

 work, somewhat more miscellaneous perhaps, but 

 still more important, under the title of Voyages dans 

 I'Amerique Meridional^ in which are included his 

 investigations on the climate of those regions, and 



