WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 317 



looking mildly at you, with its neck, not too much 

 stretched, as if uneasy in its situation; or drawn 

 too close into the shoulders, like one wishing to 

 avoid a discovery; but in moderate, perpendic- 

 ular length, supporting the head horizontally, 

 which will set off the breast to the best advantage. 

 And the breast ought to be conspicuous, and have 

 this attention paid to it; for when a young lady 

 is sweet and gentle in her manners, kind and af- 

 fable to those around her; when her eyes stand 

 in tears of pity for the woes of others, and she 

 puts a small portion of what Providence has 

 blessed her with into the hand of imploring pov- 

 erty and hunger — then we say she has the breast 

 of a turtle-dove. 



You will observe how beautifully the feathers 

 of a bird are arranged, one falling over the other 

 in nicest order; and that, where this charming 

 harmony is interrupted, the defect, though not 

 noticed by an ordinary spectator, will appear im- 

 mediately to the eye of a naturalist. Thus, a bird 

 not wounded and in perfect feather must be pro- 

 cured if possible, for the loss of feathers can 

 seldom be made good; and where the deficiency 

 is great, all the skill of the artist will avail him 

 little in his attempt to conceal the defect, because, 

 in order to hide it, he must contract the skin, 

 bring down the upper feathers, and shove in the 

 lower ones, which would throw all the surround- 

 ing parts into contortion. 



You will also observe that the whole of the 

 skin does not produce feathers, and that it is very 

 tender where the feathers do not grow. The bare 

 parts are admirably formed for expansion about 



