CouES: "BcJiind the VciC 195 



before how slender were the early attainments of the man in the 

 science he finally illumined — nor, let me add, how great was the 

 poverty, the privation, the difficulty, he surmounted.* Some of the 

 letters attest his painful attempts to learn to draw — his failures 

 and partial successes. Others give his field experiences with birds 

 unknown to him at the time — such as the Pileated Woodpecker 

 and Sparrow-Hawk. I infer from various signs that the names of 

 birds which finally appeared in his work may be resolved into two 

 categories : those of known species supplied to him by his friend 

 Bartram, and those of birds unknown to Bartram and himself, the 

 latter being the " new species " of his work. Having next to no 

 books, and being no scholar, he necessarily described as new those 

 birds which his mentor did not know the name of. Judged as pieces 

 of literaiy composition, some of Wilson's letters show a straight- 

 forward simplicity of statement, often turned with an appearance of 

 studied diction ; in short, they betray " the schoolmaster abroad." 

 Others are composed with care, and are dignified and reserved, espe- 

 cially in those portions where Mr. AYilson makes his respectful com- 

 pliments to mutual friends ; in other cases, where the naturalist lays 

 aside the pedagogue and rambles on paper as in the woods, the style 

 is slovenly and even ungrammatical. One also continually en- 

 counters some queer orthography — for this man was one who could 

 not always spell correctly. 



Wilson's handwriting was very variable, though an expert would 

 probably recognize it in all its styles. The difference is specially no- 



<5^ 



ticeable in the signature. An early style, corresponding with that 

 in which are written the words, " Yours most sincerely," that of 

 which I give a fac-simile, was apparently succeeded by the better- 

 known one, in which latter the words " Alex. Wilson " are some- 



* "Wilson's career will everlastingly amaze and confuse all persons who do 

 not know what genius is ; for "Wilson had nothing else, not even talent or 

 "ability." For the benefit of such persons, let me give a definition of that 

 mysterious quality : Geniits is tlmt union of Passion and Patience which bears 

 fruit unknown to Passion alone, to Patience alone ivqwssible. 



