316 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



to hold the specimen. These also may go under 

 the same denomination as the former. But if you 

 wish to excel in the art, if you wish to be in orni- 

 thology what Angelo was in sculpture, you must 

 apply to profound study and your own genius to 

 assist you. And these may be called the scientific 

 requisites. 



You must have a complete knowledge of orni- 

 thological anatomy. You must pay close atten- 

 tion to the form and attitude of the bird, and know 

 exactly the proportion each curve, or extension, 

 or contraction, or expansion of any particular 

 part bears to the rest of the body. In a word, 

 you must possess Promethean boldness, and bring 

 down fire and animation, as it were, into your 

 preserved specimen. 



Repair to the haunts of birds on plains and 

 mountains, forests, swamps, and lakes, and give 

 up your time to examine the economy of the dif- 

 ferent orders of birds. 



Then you will place your eagle in attitude com- 

 manding, the same as Nelson stood in, in the day 

 of battle, on the Victory's quarter-deck. Your 

 pie will seem crafty, and ,iust ready to take flight, 

 as though fearful of being surprised in some mis- 

 chievous plunder. Your sparrow will retain its 

 wonted pertness by means of placing his tail a 

 little elevated, and giving a moderate arch to the 

 neck. Your vulture will show his sluggish habits 

 by having his body nearly parallel to the earth, 

 his wings somewhat drooping, and their extrem- 

 ities under the tail instead of above it — expressive 

 of ignoble indolence. 



Your dove will be in artless, fearless innocence ; 



