476 



AUDUBON 



the insect, and assured him it was so strong that it would 

 crawl on the table with the candlestick on its back. " I 

 should like to see the experiment made, Mr. Audubon," 

 he replied. It was accordingly made, and the insect 

 moved about, dragging its burden so as to make the 

 candlestick change its position as if by magic, until coming 

 upon the edge of the table, it dropped on the floor, took 

 to wing, and made its escape. 



When it waxed late, I showed him to the apartment 

 intended for him during his stay, and endeavored to render 

 him comfortable, leaving him writing materials in abun- 

 dance. I was indeed heartily glad to have a naturalist 

 under my roof We had all retired to rest. Every person 

 I imagined was in deep slumber save myself, when of a 

 sudden I heard a great uproar in the naturalist's room. I 

 got up, reached the place in a few moments, and opened 

 the door, when to my astonishment, I saw my guest run- 

 ning about the room naked, holding the handle of my 

 favorite violin, the body of which he had battered to 

 pieces against the walls in attempting to kill the bats 

 which had entered by the open window, probably at- 

 tracted by the insects flying around his candle. I stood 

 amazed, but he continued jumping and running round and 

 round, until he was fairly exhausted, when he begged me 

 to procure one of the animals for him, as he felt convinced 

 they belonged to " a new species." Although I was con- 

 vinced of the contrary, I took up the bow of my demolished 

 Cremona, and administering a smart tap to each of the 

 bats as it came up, soon got specimens enough. The 

 war ended, I again bade him good-night, but could not 

 help observing the state of the room. It was strewed with 

 plants, which it would seem he had arranged into groups, 

 but which were now scattered about in confusion. " Never 

 mind, Mr. Audubon," quoth the eccentric naturalist, 

 " never mind, I '11 soon arrange them again. I have the 

 bats, and that 's enough." 



