TAXIDERMY. 51 



the first place without procuring them, he runs the 

 risk of never finding the same species again. 



Before his departure he must be careful to de- 

 posit his collection in safety: he will examine, 

 therefore, each object separately, to ascertain if de- 

 structive insects (so abundant in warm countries) 

 have attacked those parts where the preservative 

 has not yet penetrated. If he perceives that any 

 flies have deposited their eggs on the lips of his 

 quadrupeds, he must kill them with spirits of tur- 

 pentine ; he may then pack all his objects with 

 safety in a well-joined case, and proportioned to the 

 size of his animals. 



It is of the greatest interest to science that the 

 travelling naturalist should keep a circumstantial 

 journal of the manners and habits of animals, for 

 which he ought particularly to consult the inha- 

 bitants of the country. They have nature con- 

 tinually before their eyes, they see animals in their 

 own domain, and the remarks they make cannot 

 but be advantageous. Besides, a naturalist, with 

 his head burthened with so many objects, cannot 

 reckon much upon his memory ; however great it 

 may be, it may sometimes be defective ; he ought 

 then to consign every thing to paper. 



When the traveller has arrived in those coun- 

 tries where he finds animals of the largest size ; in 

 Africa, for example, where he will meet with the 

 elephant, the hippopotamus, the camelopard, the 

 D 2 



