AUDUBON THE HUNTER-NATURALIST. 109 



of publishing, which, as we have seen, on his retirement to 

 the solitudes of nature, near the sources of the Hudson, 

 became gradually nourished into a purpose. But let us see 

 the most touching instance of this unconsciousness in his own 

 relation of the manner of his first interview with Wilson, the 

 Ornithologist. He lived for two years in Louisville, Ken- 

 tucky, which was then a comparatively small town. He was 

 engaged in business as a merchant or trader, yet never- 

 theless says : 



During my residence at Louisville, much of my time was 

 employed in my ever favorite pursuits. I drew and noted 

 the habits of everything which I procured, and my collection 

 was daily augmenting, as every individual who carried a gun, 

 always sent me such birds or quadrupeds as he thought might 

 prove useful to me. My portfolios already contained upwards 

 of two hundred drawings. 



One fair morning, I was surprised by the sudden entrance 

 into our counting-room of Mr. Alexander Wilson, the cele- 

 brated author of the "American Ornithology," of whose 

 existence I had never until that moment been apprised. 

 This happened in March, 1810. How well do I remember 

 him, as he then walked up to me ! His long, rather hooked 

 nose, the keenness of his eyes, and his prominent cheek-bones, 

 stamped his countenance with a peculiar character. His 

 dress, too, was of a kind not usually seen in that part of the 

 country ; a short coat, trowsers, and a waistcoat of grey cloth. 

 His stature was not above the middle size. He had two 

 volumes under his arm, and as he approached the table at 

 which I was working, I thought I discovered something like 

 astonishment in his countenance. He, however, immediately 

 proceeded to disclose the object of his visit, which was to 

 procure subscriptions for his work. He opened his books, 

 explained the nature of his occupations, and requested my 

 patronage. 



I felt surprised and gratified at the sight of his volumes, 



