EPISODES 



475 



and he was desirous of knowing whether I might chance 

 to have in my collection any with which he was un- 

 acquainted. I observed some degree of impatience in his 

 request to be allowed at once to see what I had. We re- 

 turned to the house, when I opened my portfolios and 

 laid them before him. 



He chanced to turn over the drawing of a plant quite 

 new to him. After inspecting it closely, he shook his 

 head, and told me no such plant existed in nature; for, 

 kind reader, M. de T., although a highly scientific man, 

 was suspicious to a fault, and believed such plants only to 

 exist as he had himself seen, or such as, having been dis- 

 covered of old, had, according to Father Malebranche's 

 expression, acquired a "venerable beard." I told my 

 guest that the plant was common in the immediate neigh- 

 borhood, and that I should show it him on the morrow. 

 "And why to-morrow, Mr. Audubon? Let us go now." 

 We did so, and on reaching the bank of the river I 

 pointed to the plant. M. de T., I thought, had gone mad. 

 He plucked the plants one after another, danced, hugged 

 me in his arms, and exultingly told me that he had got 

 not merely a new species, but a new genus. When we 

 returned home, the naturalist opened the bundle which he 

 had brought on his back, and took out a journal rendered 

 water-proof by means of a leather case, together with a 

 small parcel of linen, examined the new plant, and wrote 

 its description. The examination of my drawings then 

 went on. You would be pleased, kind reader, to hear his 

 criticisms, which were of the greatest advantage to me, for, 

 being well acquainted with books as well as with nature, 

 he was well fitted to give me advice. 



It was summer, and the heat was so great that the 

 windows were all open. The light of the candles attracted 

 many insects, among which was observed a large species of 

 Scarabaeus. I caught one, and, aware of his inclination 

 to believe only what he should himself see, I showed him 



