340 iETTER XXXVIII. 



ings x:an receive no addition from the efforts of the 

 pencil. The tail of this animal is long, and of a shining 

 deep chesnut colour, and the whole assemblage of its 

 colours and formation gives it an air of uncommon 

 elegance. 



Having now, my dear Sir, laid before you a few of 

 the most remarkable and best known varieties of this 

 numerous, frolicsome, mischievous, and singular race, 

 you will observe, that I have only very slightly 

 touched on this subject of Nature's diversity. Natu- 

 ralists have enumerated, and travellers have observ- 

 ed an almost endless variety of this little bustling 

 class of animals ; and there is scarcely any reason to 

 doubt that the immense woods of the tropical regions 

 contain a number of species which have escaped the 

 eye of every European observer. Although man has 

 so many ages been occupied in examining the ope- 

 rations of Nature in the world of matter and of lite, a 

 great part of the immense abyss yet remains unex- 

 plored ; and perhaps all his genius and industry will 

 never be able to investigate that boundless diversity 

 which the Omnipotent Creator has stamped on his 

 works. If, however, we cannot comprehend th<* 

 depths of his counsels, nor trace all the varieties of 

 his productions, we can so far penetrate the great dc* 

 signs of his plan, as to perceive that our happiness 

 is its object; and explore the wonders of creation suf- 

 ficiently to discover that wisdom, power, and good- 

 ness, are every where conspicuously displayed. 



l)ear Sir, 



Yours, &Q, 



