524 AUDUBON 



securely, I had something like life before me ; yet much 

 was wanting. When I saw the living birds, I felt the 

 blood rush to my temples, and almost in despair spent 

 about a month without drawing, but in deep thought, and 

 daily in the company of the feathered inhabitants of dear 

 Mill Grove. 



I had drawn from the "manikin" whilst under David, 

 and had obtained tolerable figures of our species through 

 this means, so I cogitated how far a manikin of a bird 

 would answer. I labored with wood, cork, and wires, 

 and formed a grotesque figure, which I cannot describe 

 in any other words than by saying that when set up it was 

 a tolerable-looking Dodo. A friend roused my ire by 

 laughing at it immoderately, and assuring me that if I 

 wished to represent a tame gander it might do. I gave it 

 a kick, broke it to atoms, walked off, and thought again. 



Young as I was, my impatience to obtain my desire 

 filled my brains with many plans. I not infrequently 

 dreamed that I had made a new discovery ; and long before 

 day, one morning, I leaped out of bed fully persuaded 

 that I had obtained my object. I ordered a horse to be 

 saddled, mounted, and went off at a gallop towards the 

 little village of Norristown, distant about five miles. 

 When I arrived there not a door was open, for it was not 

 yet daylight. Therefore I went to the river, took a bath, 

 and, returning to the town, entered the first opened shop, 

 inquired for wire of different sizes, bought some, leaped 

 on my steed, and was soon again at Mill Grove. The 

 wife of my tenant, I really believe, thought that I was 

 mad, as, on offering me breakfast, I told her I only 

 wanted my gun. I was off to the creek, and shot the first 

 Kingfisher I met. I picked the bird up, carried it home 

 by the bill, sent for the miller, and bade him bring me a 

 piece of board of soft wood. When he returned he found 

 me filing sharp points to some pieces of wire, and I pro- 

 ceeded to show him what I meant to do. I pierced the 



