and Ornithological Biography. 143 



returned to our homely meal, but oil visiting the place several hours after, 

 we found it untouched. ' The Raven perhaps smelt the powder in our guns !' 

 At all events, it did not choose to come that day." 



The episodes or tail-pieces \\'\i\\ which the work is interspersed, 

 are in general interesting, and several of them are calculated to 

 inform the reader of the nature of the districts in which many 

 of the birds described are most abundantly found. The articles 

 entitled " The Squatters of the Mississippi" and " The Squatters 

 of Labrador," give an idea of the mode of life of the persons who 

 have settled along the unhealthy banks of that great stream, 

 and the sterlile shores of that dreary region, " Spring Garden," 

 " St John's River," " The Live Oakers," and " The Florida 

 Keys," are descriptive of the flat, swampy and " barreny" wilds 

 of Florida, and the numerous islands that skirt its coasts. 

 The " Turtlers''*' contains some interesting information respect- 

 ing the habits and parturition of the four species of Turtle 

 that occur on the southern coasts, and the " Merchant of Savan- 

 nah" is a tribute of gratitude to a generous individual, William 

 Gaston, in Savannah, who exerted himself most effectually in 

 Mr Audubon's behalf. His countrymen, in fact, are now begin- 

 ning to appreciate his merits, the American names on his sub- 

 scription list are numerous, and we trust, that they may increase 

 so as to render him a recompense for all the fatigues and priva- 

 tions which he has undergone during his many and long wan- 

 derings. But when his country has rendered him due honour, 

 let him not forget that to England alone he owed the commence- 

 ment of his fame, and that when America refused the unknown 

 wanderer of the woods a seat among her naturalists, Scotland 

 unhesitatingly conferred on him the honours which his zeal, his 

 enthusiasm, and the success of his labours, so well merited, and 

 England followed her example. We speak of Audubon as of one 

 whom we know. We have not only examined his works with 

 attention, but we have seen the original drawings and manu- 

 scripts from which they were prepared for the public eye ; and 

 whatever others may have said, we know that he is undoubtedly 

 the author of all of which he claims the authorship. Who else, 

 wc would ask, could have drawn those birds as they are drawn ? 

 Where is the man who can show any to rival tliem ? and if there 



