INDIAN ZOOLOGY. 4§ 



fay that nature hath denied melody to the birds of hot 

 climates, and formed them only to pleafe the eye with 

 their gaudy plumage : Ceylon abounds with birds equal in 

 fong * to thofe of Europe, which warble among the leaves 

 of trees, grotefque in their appearance, and often loaden 

 with the mofL delicious and falubrious fruit. Birds of 

 the richefl colors crofs the glades, and troops of peacocks 

 complete the charms of the fcene, fpreading their plumes 

 to a fun that has ample powers to do them juftice. The 

 landfcape, in many parts of India, correfponds with the 

 beauties of the animate creation : the mountains are lofty, 

 fteep, and broken, but cloathed with forefts, enlivened 

 with catara>fls -f oi z grandeur and figure unknown to this 

 part of the globe. 



But to give a reverfe of this enchanting profped:, 

 which it is impoffible to enjoy with a fuitable tranquillity ; 

 you are haraffed in one feafon with a burning heat, or in 

 the other with deluges of rain : you are tormented with 

 clouds of noxious infed:s : you dread the fpring of the 

 'Tiger, or the mortal bite of the Naja. 



The brute creation are more at enmity with one ano- 

 ther than in other climates -, and the birds are obliged to 

 exert unufual artifice in placing their little broods out of 



• That of what the Portuguefe call Domimjuin, is particularly fine. 

 ■f Thofe of the ifland of Celebes are dilUnguilhed for their magnificent fcenery, . 

 as appears from the drawings in poffeffion of Mr. Lotttu 



the 



