DON FELIX D' AZARA. 53 



ever has been observed, or, perhaps, can exist. The 

 degradation of the descendants of the Spaniards, is 

 not less remarkable than the wretched condition of 

 the native Indians. Upon the whole, a rich mine 

 is presented, whose working will well repay the 

 curious inquirer* We must entirely pass over the 

 remaining portions of this work which treat of the 

 history of the conquest, the early settlement of 

 the country, its government, both civil and eccle- 

 siastical, together with descriptions of the principal 

 towns in the several provinces. 



We now proceed to consider the services which 

 Azara rendered to Zoology. 



His labours in this department were communi- 

 cated to the public in a great work, which he 

 modestly styles " Notes on the Natural History 

 of Paraguay and La Plata," and which was pub- 

 lished, in Spanish, at Madrid; the two first 

 volumes, on quadrupeds, in the year 1802, and 

 the remaining three, on birds, at a later date.* 



* It should here be noted, that the first edition of Azara's 

 work on quadrupeds, the one which has been most generally 

 quoted, was, contrary to his wishes, and while still very in- 

 complete, published by M. L. E. Moureau St. Mery, in a 

 French translation. This happened in the following manner : 

 Whilst the work was unfinished, Azara sent it to his brother, 

 Don Nicolas, for the purpose of being submitted to the criti- 

 cism of some eminent naturalist, that after this, and receiving 

 his own additions and corrections, it might see the light. The 

 French naturalist, delighted with the work, and ignorant of 

 Azara's intentions, immediately published it. For the errors 



