50 JOKNT JAMES AUDUBOST 

 I,' these words being painted in large 

 white characters. He walked as if con- 

 scious of his own importance ; that is, 

 with a good deal of pomposity, singing, 

 'My love is but a lassie yet 7 ; and that 

 with such thorough imitation of the 

 Scotch emphasis that had not his physi- 

 ognomy suggested another parentage, I 

 should have believed him to be a genu- 

 ine Scot. A narrower acquaintance 

 proved him to be a Yankee ; and anx- 

 ious to make his acquaintance, I desired 

 to see his birds. He retorted, 'What 

 the devil did I know about birds f ' I 

 explained to him that I was a naturalist, 

 whereupon he requested me to examine 

 his birds. I did so with much interest, 

 and was preparing to leave, when he 

 bade me come to his lodgings and see 

 the remainder of his collection. This 

 I willingly did, and was struck with 

 amazement at the appearance of his stu- 

 dio. Several cages were hung about the 

 walls, containing specimens of birds, all 



