EPISODES 527 



My drawings at first were made altogether in water- 

 colors, but they wanted softness and a great deal of finish. 

 For a long time I was much dispirited at this, particu- 

 larly when vainly endeavoring to imitate birds of soft 

 and downy plumage, such as that of most Owls, Pigeons, 

 Hawks, and Herons. How this could be remedied re- 

 quired a new train of thought, or some so-called accident, 

 and the latter came to my aid. 



One day, after having finished a miniature portrait of 

 the one dearest to me in all the world, a portion of the 

 face was injured by a drop of water, which dried where it 

 fell; and although I labored a great deal to repair the 

 damage, the blur still remained. Recollecting that, when 

 a pupil of David, I had drawn heads and figures in 

 different colored chalks, I resorted to a piece of that 

 material of the tint required for the part, applied the pig- 

 ment, rubbed the place with a cork stump, and at once 

 produced the desired effect. 



My drawings of Owls and other birds of similar plumage 

 were much improved by such applications ; indeed, after 

 a few years of patience, some of my attempts began almost 

 to please me, and I have continued the same style ever 

 since, and that now is for more than thirty years. 



Whilst travelling in Europe as well as America, many 

 persons have evinced the desire to draw birds in my man- 

 ner, and I have always felt much pleasure in showing it 

 to any one by whom I hoped ornithological delineations 

 or portraitures would be improved. 



BOWIE KNIFE. 

 Presented by Henry Carleton, 



