302 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



many mouths he spent in searching the swamps, where 

 these enormous bones had been concealed from the eyes of 

 the world for centuries. 



The extensive squares of this city are ornamented with 

 well-grown and luxuriant trees. Its unremitting attention 

 to literature might cause it to be styled the Athens of the 

 United States. Heie, learning and science have taken up 

 their abode. The literary and philosophical associations, 

 the entliusiasm of individuals, the activity of the press, 

 and the cheapness of the publications, ought to raise the 

 name of Philadelphia to an elevated situation in the temple 

 of knowledge. 



From the press of this city came Wilson's famous 

 "Ornithology." By observing the birds in their native 

 haunts, he has been enabled to purge their history of 

 numberless absurdities, which inexperienced theorists had 

 introduced into it. It is a pleasing and a brilliant work. 

 We have no description of birds in any European publica- 

 tion that can come up to this. By perusing Wilson's 

 " Ornithology " attentively before I left England, I knew 

 where to look for the birds, and immediately recognised 

 them in their native land. 



Since his time, I fear the White-headed Eagles have 

 been much thinned. I was perpetually looking out for 

 them, but saw very few. One or two came now and then, 

 and soared in lofty flight over the falls of Niagara. The 

 Americans are proud of this bird in effigy, and their hearts 

 rejoice when its banner is unfurled. Could they not then 

 be persuaded to protect the white-headed eagle, and allow 

 it to glide in safety over its own native forests ? Were I 

 an American, I should think I had committed a kind of 

 sacrilege in killing the white-headed eagle. The Ibis was 

 held sacred by the Egyptians ; the Hollanders protect the 

 Stork ; the Vulture sits unmolested on the top of the 



