256 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



stuffed and classified, but dead or alive, as the subject of pro- 

 foundest and unwearying study, illustrating the most majestic 

 themes and capabilities of Art. 



Of necessity he is a naturalist likewise, and whether he be 

 a technical commentator, he has been an accurate observer ; 

 for nothing is too minute to escape the microscopic vision of 

 the true Artist. 



To him each feather has both its separate form and its blend- 

 ed expression ; each claw, beak, hair and scale, its own iden- 

 tity ! The distinctions of sex and age he recognizes by a 

 glance at plumage and size. Every note, posture and action, 

 conveys to him a meaning is significant of passion or pur- 

 pose. All that can be known of habits and haunts, he makes 

 familiar to himself in his lonely explorations 



Thus it is when he comes to paint these creatures, that he 

 is enabled to make his pictures historical to illuminate his 

 figures with the heated light of life to give its sparkle to 

 their joy, its glow to their repose, and darkened glare to their 

 anger. The same fine intuitions of "effect" which guide 

 him in grouping demi-god and hero, are exercised upon these 

 pictures with the same unerring tact he selects time, occa- 

 sion, place, that the passion, incident and scene most charac- 

 teristic may be exhibited at a glance telling the story in 

 full. The accessories of landscape are taken from its known 

 and favorite haunts, including the grasses, shrubs or trees it 

 most affects, for food or nidification the incident perhaps 

 battle with a natural enemy, or seizure of its prey is just 

 that which displays its finest traits of action, and in which 

 varied views of form and plumage can be afforded while 

 the distinctions of size and markings which grow out of sex 

 and age, are furnished in the grouping. 



The magical work is done ! The unregarded denizens of 

 unhoused wilds are seen all at once to be sharers with proud 

 humanity of its passions, sentiments and even humors, and 

 to express these in action far more free and noble for its sim- 

 plicity ! Then man is not alone upon the earth to think, to 



