48 



Auduhon^s Birds of America, 



figure, 

 the 



this intruder (perhaps designedly) is much inferior to the 

 others. 



Great-footed Falcons in the act of devouring Canadian Teal. 

 (PI. 16.) — A masterly, but by no means a pleasing picture. 

 It is a scene of slaughter and of butchery. I cannot, however 

 pass over the 

 drawing of 

 the left hand 

 and 

 inimita- 

 ble foreshort- 

 ening of the 

 head {fig, 

 20.) without 

 praise. The 

 leg of the 

 right hand 

 bird seems to 

 me faulty, but 

 I write un- 

 der correc- 

 tion, never 

 having seen a 

 falcon in this 

 particular at- 

 titude. From 

 this I turn 

 with pleasure to 



Turtle-doves of Carolina. (PI. 17.) — It is quite impossible to 

 treat this subject with greater truth, or delicacy of conception, 

 than it has here received. In a thicket of the beautiful Stu- 

 artm Malacodendron, (whose white blossoms are emblematic, 

 like the dove, of chasteness and purity,) a pair of turtles have 

 built their nests. The female is sitting, and — their union 

 being consummated — she is receiving the caresses of the male. 

 Above is another pair ; their love is in its infancy. The male, 

 seated on the same branch with his intended partner, is 

 eagerly pressing forwards to reach a " stolen kiss," but the 

 head of the female is coyly turned. Her secret satisfaction 

 is, however, expressed by the agitation of her wings and tail. 

 If the artist had never painted any picture but this, it would 

 secure him the highest meed of praise, so long as truth and 

 nature continued the same. 



Mocking Birds defending their Nest from a Rattlesnake. 

 (PI. 21.) — The same poetic sentiment and masterly execution 

 characterises this picture. The formidable reptile has driven 



