A Bill of Fare, 143 



a tough hide of an alligator will rise like Banquo's 

 ghost before you. I fear that you will both be as 

 lank as Greyhounds, the week after your arrival. 

 But I forget that one of the party can easily feed on 

 love, and that we have besides, at least, a dozen jars 

 of old birds in whiskey, which may serve for the two 

 old naturalists. The truth is, the country folk are 

 afraid to come to the market vegetables are forbid- 

 den ; fish and shrimps are thrown into the dock. 

 We will have to stay our appetites by talking about 

 birds. Oh, what a feast ! Why we will devour every 

 bird on the Pacific, beginning at the great Condor 

 and leaving off at the new Humming-bird which 

 I hope has been re-discovered. The 



birds have arrived after a long passage. The 

 pigeons, you know, I am fond of. Dr. Wilson longs 

 for a Jay, and I will send it to-morrow. The boxes 

 of plates have arrived ; they are, to my eye, the most 

 beautiful engravings that I have ever seen. * * 



I am getting quite well again, and will soon be 

 able to out-walk you. Sister Maria has not been able 

 to paint much for you, within the last month, hav- 

 ing been principally engaged in nursing the sick. 



Old friend, I have not heard from you for some 

 time, where are you, and what are you doing? 



Your friend, 



J. B. 

 From Miss MARTIN to J. J. AUDUBON. 



CHARLESTON, October 28th, 1836. 



My dear Friend Your welcome letter did not 

 reach Charleston for more than two weeks after it 

 was written. 



Dr. Bachman has quite recovered his health and 

 activity, and is anxiously looking forward to the 

 time of your arrival. We have given our neighbors 

 warning not to be alarmed if they hear a tremendous 



