I 2 CoUES, Letter from W. Srvainson to J. J. Audubon. fj^ 



proposition on supplying scientific information for your work, or 

 you are very erroneously informed on the manner in which such 

 assistance is usually given. Dr Richardson, and a hundred 

 others, similarly situated, might with equal justice say that no 

 name should appear but their own ; as it would rob them of their 

 fame, because notes are furnished by one or two other persons, 

 your friends would tell you, if you enquired of them., that even ^_y 

 name would add something to the value of 'The Birds of America 

 You pay me compliments on my scientific knowledge, and wished 

 you possessed a portion ; & you liken the acquisition of such a 

 portion to purchasing a sketch of an eminent painter — the simile 

 is good, but allow me to ask you, whether, after procuring the 

 sketch, you would mix it up with your own, and pass it off to your 

 friends as your production ? I cannot possibly suppose that such 

 would be your duplicity and I therefore must not suppose that 

 you intended I should give all the scientific information I have 

 laboured to acquire during twenty years on ornithology — conceal 

 my name, — and transfer my fame to your pages & to your 

 reputation. 



" Few have enjoyed the opportunity of benefiting by the advice 

 and assistance of a scientific friend so much as yourself ; and no 

 one, I must be allowed to say, has evinced so little inclination to 

 profit by it. When I call to mind the repeated offers I have 

 made you to correct the nomenclature of your birds, from the 

 first time of our acquaintance, and recollect the dislike you 

 appeared to have to receiving any such information or correction, 

 I cannot but feel perfect surprize at your now wishing to profit 

 by that aid, you have hitherto been so indifferent about. 



" Let me however urge upon you one advise which, for your own 

 sake, I should be sorry you despised. It is to characterize your- 

 self, or get some friend to do so for you, all your new species. 

 The specimens, you tell me, are now in England, & the task 

 will be comparatively easy. I urge this, because you may not be 

 aware that a new species, deposited in a museum, is of no 

 authority whatsoever, until its name and its character are published. 

 I have repeatedly set my face against such authorities, so has 

 Mr Vigors, so has Ch. Bonaparte, and on this head we are all 

 perfectly unanimous. Unless, therefore, this is done, you will, I 



