2 10 The Naturalist in La Plata. 



who have made natural history a study, and who 

 " pursue the investigations of her charming mysteries 

 with ardour and dehght." This we can under- 

 stand ; but to what an astonishing degree the 

 feehng was carried in bim, when, after remarking 

 that enthusiasm and excitement with regard to most 

 things in life become lessened and eventually 

 deadened by time in most of us, h^e was able to add, 

 " not so, however, I believe, with those who take 

 up the study of the Family of Humming-birds ! " 

 It can only be supposed that he regarded natural 

 history principally as a " science of dead animals — 

 a necrology " and collected humming-birds just as 

 others collect Roman coins, birds' eggs, old weapons, 

 or blue china, their zeal in the pursuit and faith in 

 its importance increasing Avith the growth of their 

 treasures, until they at last come to believe that 

 though all the enthusiasms and excitements which 

 give a zest to the lives of other men fade and perish 

 with time, it is not so with their particular pursuit. 

 The more rational kind of pleasure experienced 

 by the ornithologist in studying habits and dis- 

 position no doubt results in a great measure from 

 the fact that the actions of the feathered people 

 have a savour of intelligence in them. Whatever 

 his theory or conviction about the origin of instincts 

 may happen to be, or even if he has no convictions 

 on the subject, it must nevertheless seem plain to 

 him that intelligence is, after all, in most cases, the 

 guiding principle of hfe, supplementing and modify- 

 ing habits to bring them into closer harmony with 

 the environment, and enlivening every day with 

 countless little acts which result from judgment 



