C 77 3 



lieve is not a new one) I have no reafon 

 to think unfounded. Animals which, like 

 deer, are of a flender make, whofe flender- 

 nefs is not difguifed by fleecy or lhaggy 

 coats, and whofe coats (like thofe of many 

 deer) are mottled, muft furely be more apt 

 to be meagre and fpotty when in groups, 

 than fuch as are of a fuller make and ap- 

 pearance, and of a more uniform and har- 

 monizing tint. The effect in trees would 

 be obvious: thin trees, thinly clothed with 

 foliage, and that foliage of a variety of 

 tints, you muft allow would at leaft be apt 

 to be meagre and fpotty in groups ; and I 

 went no further. The observation in my 

 ElTay does not ftand alone, as might pof- 

 fibly be fuppofed from your allufion; it 

 was put there to (hew the diftinct quali- 

 ties of deer and fheep, confidered as ani- 

 mals fuited to pictures ; it was to (hew, 

 what was very much to my purpofe, and 



what 



