. 272 



M.D., Professor of Anatomy in the University of Pennsyl- 

 vania," which was referred to a committee. 



Mr. Ord directed the attention of the Society to the follow- 

 ing passage in Audubon's "Birds of America." Article, 

 Small-headed Flycatcher. 



" When Alexander Wilson visited me at Louisville, he found, in my already 

 large collection of drawings, a figure of the present species, which, being at 

 that time unknown to him, he copied, and afterwards published in his great 

 work, but without acknowledging the privilege that had thus been granted to 

 him. I have more than once regretted this, not by any means so much on 

 my own account, as for the sake of one to whom we are so deeply indebted 

 for his elucidation of our ornithology." 



"This attack upon the reputation of a member of this Society," said Mr. 

 Ord, " one who, during the long period that he dwelt amongst us, was noted 

 for his integrity, ought not to be suffered to pass without examination." 



Mr. Ord submitted to the inspection of the Society, Wilson's Autograph 

 Diary of his journey from Philadelphia to New Orleans, via Pittsburg and 

 Louisville, commencing on the 30th of January, 1810. From this diary it ap- 

 pears, that he arrived at Louisville on the evening of Sunday, the 18th of 

 March; and departed thence for Frankford and Lexington, on the morning of 

 Friday the 23d. During his stay at Louisville, he was occupied three days in 

 soliciting subscribers, and endeavouring to get materials for his work, and 

 one day he was employed in writing to his friends at home. Four days, con- 

 sequently, were passed in Louisville, one afternoon of which was devoted to 

 shooting, in company with Mr. Audubon ; and a portion of a morning was ap- 

 propriated to examining that gentleman's collection of crayon drawings ; in 

 which Wilson states he saw the figures of two new birds, both Motacillce or 

 Warblers ; but he does not state that he saw a figure of a Muscicapa or Fly- 

 catcher. He does not say a word respecting the loan of Mr. Audubon's draw- 

 ings, nor does he give the least reason to suppose that he made a copy of 

 any of the drawings ; on the contrary, he positively asserts that he did not 

 get one new bird at Louisville. 



Mr. Ord proceeded to examine the style of both Audubon's and Wilson's 

 drawings, and pointed out the peculiarities of each author. He declared, that 

 the figure of Wilson's Small-headed Flycatcher differs in no respect from his 

 ordinary style ; that it bears the signet of paternity on its very front. But, as 

 it might be objected that this mode of reasoning is inconclusive, from the cir- 

 cumstance of several of Mr. Audubon's birds bearing a resemblance to those 

 of Wilson, Mr. Ord obviated this objection, by stating that Mr. Audubon had 

 not scrupled to appropriate the labours of Wilson to his own use ; inasmuch 

 as the figure of the female March Blackbird, (Birds of America, plate 67,) 

 and that of the male Mississippi Kite, (same work, plate 117,) had both been 

 copied from the American Ornithology, without the least acknowledgment of 

 the source whence they had been derived. Mr. Ord thought that the charge 

 of plagiarism came with an ill grace from one who had been guilty of it him- 

 self, as in the instances above mentioned. 



Wilson states, that he shot the bird figured and described in his 6th volume, 



