6 The \\'ilsox Bulletix — Xo. (i3. 



"Vivid and ardent was his genius : matcliless he was with 

 hoth pen and pencil in giving hfe and spirit to the heautitul 

 objects be dehneated with passionate love. The brilliant 

 French-American natnralist was little of a 'scientist.' Of his 

 work, the magical beauties of form, and color, and move- 

 ments, are his all ; his page is redolent of Nature's fragrance.'"^ 

 He was, according to his own description, "five feet, ten 

 inches, erect and with muscles of steel, in temper warm, 

 irascible, and at times violent." Fond of shooting, fishing 

 and riding on horseback, ridiculously fond of dress. "To have 

 seen me going shooting in black satin small-clothes or 

 breeches, with silk stockings, and the finest rufiled shirt 

 Philadelph'ia could afford, was, as I now realize, an absurd 

 spectacle ; but it was one of my many foibles, and I shall not 

 conceal it ; I purchased the best horses in the country, and 

 rode well and felt proud of it ; my guns and fishing tackle 

 were equally good, always expensive, and richlv ornamented, 

 often with silver." - 



Fond of music, dancing, and drawing, in all of which he 

 was well instructed. Without a care or occupation except 

 that of amusement, until he became united to a woman of the 

 highest devotion, appreciation and refinement ; not to have 

 been a little vain and selfish would have been altogether im- 

 possible. "He was handsome and he knew it. He was ele- 

 gant and he prided himself upon it. He was generous in 

 most things, but he did not love his rivals." ■' 



To the fastidious Audubon, Wilson's appearance was far 

 from prepossessing. ''How well do I remember him, as he 

 walked up to me ! Flis long, rather hooked nose, the keen- 

 ness of his eyes, and his prominent cheek bones, stamped his 

 countenance. with a peculiar character. His dress, too, was of 

 ^i kind not usually seen in that part of the country, — a 

 short coat, trousers, and a waistcoat of grey cloth."* 



^ ("ones' Key to North Aniericnn T.irds. 



"Audubon's Journals. 



^Buchanan's Life of Autlulion. 



' Audubon's Ornitholotiical lUosraphy. 



