136 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



experiences of two friends in tramping the Pentland 

 Hills together; says "Physiophilus" [himself], "You 

 must have many fine songsters in America"; to which 

 "Ornithologus" [Audubon] replies: 



That we have indeed. The Mocking Bird, of course, stands 

 first in my opinion, and is unrivalled. Then, perhaps on ac- 

 count of my own sensitive nature, I would place next the Wood 

 Thrush, although the Cat Bird is far its superior in many 

 points, as is also the Turdus rufus. Think of our Rose-breasted 

 Pine and Blue Grosbeaks, how mellow and sweet their continu- 

 ous songs are, whether by day or during calm nights. Watch 

 the varied ditties of the Orchard Oriole, and the loud and more 

 musical notes of its brother, the Golden Hangnest. You have 

 never heard the Tawny Thrush or the Hermit Thrush, other- 

 wise, believe me, you would have enjoyed much delicious 

 pleasure. . . . 



William MacGillivray was a man of the finest char- 

 acter and an honor to the best traditions of British schol- 

 arship; in his enthusiasm and indefatigable energy he 

 was fully a match to Audubon. For nearly twelve years 

 (1841-1852) he was an honored lecturer and professor 

 in Marischal College and University, Aberdeen, where 

 he died, probably as a result of overwork in the field, in 

 1852, thus outliving his older friend but one year. His 

 last completed work, Natural History of Deeside and 

 Braemar, was published under the patronage of Queen 

 Victoria and by her command privately printed, under 

 the editorship of E. Lancaster, in 1855. MacGillivray's 

 surviving son, whose career as a field naturalist was also 

 cut short by too strenuous work, accompanied Huxley, 

 then an assistant surgeon in the Royal Navy, on the 

 memorable voyage of the Rattlesnake under Captain 

 Owen Stanley in 1842. MacGillivray was honored when 



