SIDELIGHTS ON CONTEMPORARIES 115 



in Paris, he only visited the Ornithological Gallery twice, 

 (where I was studying for hours, almost daily), for the pur- 

 pose of calling upon me ; and even then he merely bestowed that 

 sort of passing glance at the magnificent cases of birds, which 

 a careless observer would do while sauntering in the room. 



Audubon, to be sure, was never much of a closet nat- 

 uralist or an admirer of stuffed specimens ; but in read- 

 ing this criticism of an estranged friend, one wonders 

 if the writer had really forgotten that while his own 

 expressed desire in going to Paris in 1828 was to study 

 in the Museum, Audubon's sole purpose was to extend 

 his subscription list; that after innumerable interviews 

 with ministers of state and running from post to pillar 

 for two months, his friend was obliged to come away 

 with but thirteen additional names or orders for his 

 work. Had Swainson also forgotten that during all 

 that time Audubon acted as his interpreter, assisting 

 him in all his visits and purchases, and that but shortly 

 after, when hard pressed for money, he had called on 

 Audubon for a considerable sum? 



As a parting shot to his former friend, Swainson 

 also said: 



He can shoot a bird, and make it live again, as it were, 

 upon canvass ; but he cannot describe it in scientific, and there- 

 fore in perfectly intelligible terms. Hence he found it neces- 

 sary, in this part of his work, to call in the aid of others ; but 

 being jealous that any other name should appear on the title 

 page than his own, he was content with the assistance of some 

 one who, very good naturedly, would fall in with his humour. 



What was here said of Audubon might have been 

 true in 1830, but it was not true in 1840. Swainson 

 could never understand that his friend was a man who 



