THE STRANGER NATURALIST. 53 



but at the same time, lie eagerly denied the offer 

 of any clean clothes ; and it was with evident 

 reluctance he accepted an invitation for ablution. 

 It is not difficult to conceive the interest and as- 

 tonishment excited among the inmates of Au- 

 dubon's habitation, by the singular appearance 

 of this scientific professor. A long loose coat of 

 yellow nankeen — on which the inroads of time 

 were plainly visible, stained as it was with the 

 juice of many a plant — ^hung about him like a 

 sack. A waistcoat of the same, with enormous 

 pockets and buttoned up to the chin, reached 

 below, over a pair of tight pantaloons, the lower 

 parts of which were buttoned down to the ancles. 

 The dignity he acquired from the broad and 

 prominent brow which ornamented his counte- 

 nance, was somewhat diminished by the forlorn 

 appearance of his long beard, and the mass of 

 lank black hair which fell from his shoulders. 

 His striking resemblance to that equally eccen- 

 tric savant, Dick Roberts, must certainly have 

 crossed the mind of Audubon, if, as is not im- 

 probable, that extraordinary man had ever met 

 his observation, whilst enjoying the hospitality 

 of Allerton. The surprise of the ladies was in- 

 voluntarily manifested in the exchange of sun- 

 dry critical glances which, to a tenacious egotist, 

 would have spoken volumes. Soon, however, 

 their astonishment was converted into admiration 

 5* 



