HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



227 



But as we are difcourfing of birds, we will, before 

 we end this fubject, make an obvious reflection. There 

 Is not an American animal which draws fo much reproach 

 upon it from our philofophers as the floth, on account 

 of its aftonifliing indolence and inability of motion. But 

 what would they fay if there was a bird of this nature? 

 This would certainly be the mod irregular animal in the 

 world, for fuch an inactivity or flownefs is more prepos- 

 terous in a bird than in a quadruped. But where is 

 this bird ? In the old continent, and has been defcribed 

 by count de Buffon ; who fays that the Dronte, a bird 

 of the Earl-Indies, larger than the fwan, is among birds 

 what the floth is among quadrupeds : it appears, he 

 fays, a turtle in the clothing of a bird ; and nature in 

 granting it thofe ufelefs ornaments, wings and tail, feems 

 to have intended to add embarraffment to its weight, and 

 irregularity of motion to the inactivity of its body, and 

 to make its cumbrous largenefs flill more afflicting, by 

 putting it in remembrance that it is a bird. 



From what we have faid we cannot avoid concluding, 

 that the Iky of America is not niggardly, nor its cli- 

 mate unfavourable to the generation of animals ; that 

 there has been no fcarcity of matter, nor has nature 

 made ufe of a different fcale of proportions in that re- 

 gion: that what count de Buffon and Mr. de Paw have 

 faid of the fmallnefs, of the irregularity, and defects of 

 American quadrupeds is erroneous, or rather a feries of 

 errors; and though it was true, it would be of no aiTiit- 

 ance to prove the malignity of the climate of America. 

 But we mail now enquire whether they have done lefs 

 wrong to the new world in what they fay of the fup- 

 pofed degeneracy of quadrupeds tranfported there from 

 Europe. 



SECT. 



