ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 339 



Perhaps it may be satisfactory to add here, that, 

 some years ago, I did a bird upon this plan in 

 Demerara. It remained there two years. It was 

 then conveyed to England, where it staid five 

 months, and returned to Demerara. After being 

 four years more there, it was conveyed back again 

 through the West Indies to England, where it 

 has now been near five years, unfaded and un- 

 changed. 



On reflecting that this bird has been twice in 

 the temperate and torrid zone, and remained some 

 years in the hot and humid climate of Demerara, 

 only six degrees from the line, and where almost 

 every thing becomes a prey to the insect, and that 

 it is still as sound and bright as when it was first 

 done, it will not be thought extravagant to sur- 

 mise, that this specimen will retain its pristine 

 form and colours for years after the hand that 

 stuffed it has mouldered into dust. 



I have shown this art to the naturalists in Brazil, 

 Cayenne, Demerara, Oroonoque, and Rome, and 

 to the royal cabinets of Turin and Florence. A 

 severe accident prevented me from communi- 

 cating it to the cabinet of Paris, according to my 

 promise. A word or two more, and then we will 

 conclude. 



A little time and experience will enable you to 

 produce a finished specimen. " Mox similis volucri, 

 mox verar volucris." If your early performance 



