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"It is strange", I remarked, "that the zoology & botany &c of the state remains so unknown for [[strikethrough]] I find [[/strikethrough]] Mr. Pringle & I find its botany and zoology almost unknown".

"Oh!" he exclaimed, "they do not attempt field-work - they are closet naturalists".

In other words, here exists what is considered a group of so called very active scientific men in one of the largest cities of the republic at whose very door are [[strikethrough]] various [[/strikethrough]] many interesting matters for investigation lying awaiting the research of someone from a foreign country, while these "scientists" carry on voluminous correspondence with societies of a similar character throughout the republic.

This light & scattering character the Mexicans inherited from the Spaniards is shown in many ways beside their unstable devotion to science.  I have so frequently had them