54 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



at the agreeable ease and rare enliglitenment of 

 the stranger's conversation. 



Having visited Audubon expressly for the 

 purpose of seeing his representations of birds, 

 which he had heard were accompanied by those 

 of shrubs and plants, his impatience to inspect 

 the portfolios at once was very evident. He 

 was struck with the drawing of a plant which 

 appeared new to him. With a characteristic 

 scepticism, however, which led him to believe 

 only in his own discoveries, or such as, owning the 

 prestige of age, had, according to Malebranche's 

 expression, acquired a "venerable beard," he 

 denied the existence of such a plant. As it was 

 very common in the neighbourhood, Audubon 

 promised to show it to him on the morrow. 



"Why to-morrow?" exclaimed he; "let us 

 go now." On reaching the bank of the river, 

 he was convinced of the truth of the representa- 

 tion. Plucking the plants mercilessly one after 

 the other, he danced, hugged them in his arms, 

 and crying out that he had not merely a new 

 species, but a new genus, he seemed on the verge 

 of delirium from delight. Yet was his incredu- 

 lity in no degree diminished with regard to other 

 matters. Again within doors, the windows were 

 opened to admit the summer air. The light of 

 the candles attracted the insects, and among 

 them a large species of Scaraboens. Audubon 



