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toad of Surinam, which in a manner direftly oppofitc, hears its young in nu- 

 merous cells on its back, was anotlier object of wonder to the naturalifts of 

 Europe : while amongft birds, the prodigious fizc of the Condor, which feizes 

 and carries off fheep, and even attacks and deftroys the larger cattle, oppofcd 

 to the diminutive race of Humming-birds, fome of which are far lefs than 

 fevcral infeds, and adorned widi colours which no art can exprefs, called forth 

 all that admiration which philoibphic inquirers mull; ever feel at new and cu- 

 rious difcovcries in the hiftory of Nature. 



Amongft birds poiTelTed of ir.ufical powers, a fpecies of thrufh was found to exill, 

 to whofe voice even die warblings of the nighdngale were judged inferior. It is 

 remarkable that many of the highly gay and brilliant birds of America, are 

 dcftitute of that pleafing power of fong which gives fo peculiar a charm to 

 the groves anci fields of Europe j and an elegant poet has beautifully expreffed 

 the fuppofed fuperiority of our own illand in this refpeft. 



" Nor envy we the gaudy robes they lent 

 Proud Montezuma's realm, whofe legions cad 

 A boundlefs radiance waving on the fun. 

 While Philomel is ours; while in our fliadcs, 

 Thro' the fof: filence of the liftening night 

 The fober-fuited fongftrefs trills her lay. " 



The mufic however of the nightingale has always been confidered as plain- 

 tive or melancholy, and fuch as conveys ideas of diftrels. 



Flet noftem, ramoque fedens, miferabile carmen 

 Integrat, et mceflis late loca qucftibus implet. 



Darkling fhe wails in fadly-pleafing (trains. 

 And melancholy mufic fills the plains. 



But the notes of the bird now to be defcribed a/e of a livelier nature, a 

 bolder ftrain, and of a rnore varied richnefs and force of tone. It fin-JS both 

 . No. III. R by 



