284. 



WANDERINGS IN 



Fourth come lip witli them, I should suppose they have sei- 



JOURNEY. 



dom escaped from experiencing a certain proportion of 



misery. 



After fully satisfying myself that it only leads the 

 world into error to describe the Sloth while he is on the 

 ground, or in any place except in a tree, I carried the 

 one I had in my possession, to his native haunts. As 

 soon as he came in contact with the branch of a tree, all 

 went right with him. I could see as he climbed up into 

 his own country, that he was on the right road to happi- 

 ness ; and felt persuaded more than ever, that the world 

 has hitherto erred in its conjectures concerning the Sloth, 

 on account of naturalists not having given a description 

 of him when he was in the only position in which he ought 

 to have been described, namely, clinging to the branch of 

 a tree. 



As the appearance of this part of the country bears 

 great resemblance to Cayenne, and is so near to it, I was 

 in hopes to have found the Grande Gobe Mouche of 

 Buffon, and the septicoloured Tangara, both of which are 

 common in Cayenne ; but after many diligent searches, I 

 did not succeed ; nor could I learn from the Indians that 

 they had ever seen those two species of birds in these parts. 

 The Grosf- Here I procured the Gross-beak with a rich scarlet body, 

 and black head and throat. Buffon mentions it as coming 

 from America. I had been in quest of it for years, but 

 could never see it, and concluded that it was not to be 



