138 Ornithological Biography. 



many romantic adventures. — Upon a future occasion we propose 

 giving our readers some exti'acts, for vvliich we have not room 

 at present. 



In awarding to him these just praises, we seek to vindicate his 

 claims to the confidence and admiration of his countrj^men. 



We believe it is Madame de Stael, who, when speaking of ne- 

 glected merit, observes, that time pays both principal and interest. 

 So it will be with Audubon : ere long, the intrinsic value of his 

 labours to natural history, will be universally recognized. We 

 shall hear of no more unfriendly remarks upon the great " Wood- 

 man" of America, as he has been called in Europe, from city 

 ornithologists, who, like Cowslip in the Agreeable Surprise, are 

 most of all pleased with the sight of a " roast duck." We 

 know that some of Mr. Audubon's " strange stories" have alarm- 

 ed some tender consciences, that annually 



"Perform their scicntiiic rounds, 



As far as Bow bells fling their sounds." 



In his great work, Mr. Audubon gives, in plate 21, a representa- 

 tion of " Mocking birds defending their nest from a rattlesnake.'^ 

 The serpent has got up the bush, and has reached the nest to 

 suck the eggs, when the birds attack him. It is one of the most 

 masterly drawings we ever saw. Swainson says of it, " every 

 part of the story is told with exquisite feeling." Whether any 

 one besides Mr. Audubon, has ever seen the crotalus in.that situ- 

 ation, we do not know. Mr. Audubon declares he has ; and we 

 have no idea of disputing his word, because we have not seen, 

 perhaps solely from want of opportunity, what he knows he has 

 witnessed. So rapid is the progress of natural science, that what 

 may be called romance to-day, becomes history to-morrow. We 

 certainly did not know it was the habit of the rattlesnake to 

 climb plants ; Cuvier says they do not. But the mocasan snake 

 is well known to climb plants after his prey ; and both this snake 

 and the rattlesnake live upon birds and squirrels. Now the mocas- 

 sin, which is the Coluber tisiphcrie of Sliaw, Trigonocephalus of 

 Oppel, is approximated to the i ittlesnakes by Cuvier, who says 

 it is " distinguished from them l^y the want of a rattle, but hav- 

 ing the same pits behind the nostrils, and being equally venomous." 

 The truth is, they are so much alike, that it must be a very dif- 

 ficult matter to distinguish between living specimens at liberty, 

 where the rattles of the one are mule, and not apparent : and such 



