98 John Bachman. 



friend, since I wrote you, another pair of wild tur- 

 keys have been sent me. * * Do examine into 

 the Migration of Birds do any birds remain in your 

 part of Florida, that are not found here? I rather 

 fear, that with the exception of '"'Water Birds," you 

 you will do little before spring. 



I have gone carefully over my Ornithology, and 

 have perfected myself in the Fringillas, and, I think 

 that you will not catch me napping on that point . 

 Would that I knew the Sylvias as well. However, 

 the Spring will do wonders, and we will astonish 

 you with new specimens. You see how I have 

 rambled on * * * * What about that rattle- 

 snake ? In Daughty's little work, a scribbler says r 

 "I am afraid of Audubon since the rattlesnake story." 

 I long to read a review of your book in the "Phila- 

 delphia Quarterly." 



They will not wait a moment longer for me, so 

 dear Audubon, farewell. 



Your friend, J. B. 



The scribbler proved to be Ord, the naturalist, 

 quoting from Waterton, of England. 



Bachman, in his " Defence of Audubon," (Bucks 

 County Intelligencer, 1835,) writes, 



"Audubon has been rudely assailed about a "snake 

 story," but Waterton has given us several stories that 

 fairly fill us with wonder and dismay. Instead of a 

 contemptible rattlesnake, as thick as a man's arm, he 

 tells us of the great "Boa" which he encountered in his 

 den. Dashing forward headlong upon the Boa, he 

 pierced him with his lance, and tying up his mouth 

 carried him as a trophy to the British Museum. 

 The snake was so large that it took three men to 

 carry it, and so heavy that they had to rest ten 

 times, 



