a n i m a l radleriftics >of.them, which may be feen by comparing thedeE-
i . ' d o m ..n j t |o n s 0 £ Linnaeus, (Syft. Nat. x ii.) Gouan, (genera pifciuffl)
.Brunniche, ( icthyolog maflilienf. ) Pallas, ( fpicileg. zool. ). and
Forfkal, (.Faun. iEgypt. arab. ) fome o f which are .certainly.found
from the examination o f a few fpecies only.
I dial! now briefly mention the u se" which, is made o f the various
animal productions- in the South Seaifles. T h e animal kingdom
.has at all. times, furniflied mankind with a variety o f neceflaries,
convenicncies, and luxuries ; the firft fteptowards the civilization
o f nations, is the adoption o f fuch things, as 1 ferve to make life
more .ealy and comfortable ; and the firft confequence o f a civilized
Rate, is the introdu&ion of fuch articles as captivate the various
. fenfes, and: flatter the appetites. Hence in the South Sea we- -find
the natives;of the Society Ifles in the highcft Hate of, civilizations
they poffefs the comforts and even luxuries of life :, the moreWefter-
ly nations lofe the luxuries, and retain only . the conveniencies-: the
.New-.Zeelanders.more favage, have even thefe in an inferior degree;
land the wretched inhabitants, o f Tierra del.Fuego, can hardly be
Laid to. have more than the bare neceflaries o f life, and therefore,, o f
/all - our brethren, .approach th e . neareft to brutes. Alrnoft every
fpecies of filh is eaten at the tropical ifles, and generally looked
.upon by the inhabitants as a dainty, - which they prefer to pork and
■ dog’s flefh. Their birds, on . the contrary, are .feldom taken for
..the
t h e f a k e o f a n y t h i n g e l f e t h a n t h e f e a t h e r s , . ( e x c e p t i n g t h e d o m e f t i c a n i m a l
K IN G D OM - :
fowls and wild ducks) o f which, they make a variety o f ornamen ts,
a n d upon which, as real luxuries, they fe ta very high value : nay,'
fo far .are they from eating all birds,, that they have a kind o f fuper-
flitious regard for herons and king-fiihers, alrnoft like that which
is paid to the ftork, the robin red-hreaft,. the fwallow, and other
familiar, harmlefs birds in -England. Th e natives o f the Society •
Ifles;, have their immenfe helmets and targets covered with the
fhining plumes o f a pigeon, and. edged round with a vaft. number
o f the long white tail feathers of the tropic-bird : but what they,
value as much as diamonds, and pearls are efteemed in Europe, are -
the crimfon feathers of Certain parroquets, of-which, they make
taflels to ornament the warriors. W e accidentally procured a quantity
of thefe feathers at Amfterdam, .one of the .Friendly Ifles, where -
they fattened them on pieces o f their fluffs; Thefe being carried,
to 'O-Taheites, and. fhared out' in little pieces, procured, us a gréât:
number , o f hogs'; for a bit o f two inches fquare, covered with,
feathers,. would at any time, be eagerly purchaied; with a, hog.
The reft o f the tropical iflanders make a variety,of ornaments of.
birds- feathers,,, fuch as. crcfled caps ; at Eafter Me, and the.
Marquefas, fly-flaps, &c. Th e hair of the dog is - employed in.
fringing their targets at O-Taheitee, and nothing is more common
than vaft bunches of human hair tied round the knees, ancles, feci.
5 among