compi.i;tion of thk ornithology 103 



friend — who apparently did not even know Audu- 

 bon — without the sHghtest idea of its ever being 

 pubHshed, while Audubon's account was written 

 after Wilson's death, after he had seen Wilson's 

 diary, and was in defense of his own action at the 

 time. Appearances are certainly in favor of Wil- 

 son. Moreover, why should Wilson have been 

 jealous of Audubon, or have regarded him as a 

 rival, when he had Audubon's own assurance that 

 he did not intend publication, whereas the second 

 volume of Wilson's work was already in the press ? 

 On the other hand, that Audubon did regard Wil- 

 son as a rival was evidenced later. When three 

 new editions of the "Ornithology" were to be pub- 

 lished in Edinburgh, Audubon heard of it and very 

 naturally "set to work vigorously to get his book 

 out before them," Audubon evidently felt great 

 interest in Wilson after his death and took him for 

 his guide. At a Buffalo hotel he wrote after his 

 name, "Who, like Wilson, will ramble, but never, 

 like that great man, die under the lash of a book- 

 seller." When traveling in Great Britain through 

 York, Leeds, and other places, he remarked, "How 

 often I thought during these visits of poor Alex- 

 ander Wilson." Words of praise for a dead man 

 are cheap; deeds of kindness to a live one cost 

 more. When Alexander Wilson was traveling 

 under every hardship, giving his life for science, 

 Audubon, then a well-to-do business man, let his 

 paltry vanity restrain his first impulse to help him; 

 Wilson understood his action and his sensitive na- 

 ture was hurt. This is the whole matter, and with 

 all of Audubon's greatness and all his achievements, 



