civ LIFE OF WILSON. 



of the woods wtich ttey frequented — that without patron, fortune or recom- 

 pense, he brought the greater part of these from the obscurity of ages, gave to 

 each ' a local habitation and a name' — collected from personal observation 

 whatever of their characters and manners seemed deserving of attention; and 

 delineated their forms and features, in their native colors, as faithfully as he 

 could, as records, at least, of their existence. 



" In treating of those birds more generally known, I have endeavored to do 

 impartial justice to their respective characters. Ignorance and stubborn- 

 rooted opinions, even in this country, have rendered some odious that are 

 eminently useful; and involved the manners of others in fable and mystery, 

 which in themselves are plain and open as day. To remove prejudices when 

 they oppose themselves to the influence of humanity is a difiScult, but, when 

 effected, a most pleasing employment. If therefore, in divesting this part of 

 the natural history of our country of many of its fables and most forbidding 

 features, and thus enabling our youth to become more intimately acquainted 

 with this charming portion of the feathered creation, I should have succeeded 

 in multiplying their virtuous enjoyments, and in rendering them more humane 

 to those little choristers, how gratifying to my heart would be the reflection ! 

 For to me it appears that, of all inferior creatures, Heaven seems to have 

 intended birds as the most cheerful associates of man ; to soothe and exhilarate 

 him in his labors by their varied melody, of which no other creature, but man, 

 is capable ; to prevent the increase of those supernumerary hosts of insects that 

 would soon consume the products of his industry; to glean up the refuse of 

 his fields, ' that nothing be lost,' and, what is of much more interest, to be to 

 him the most endearing examples of the tenderest connubial love and parental 

 afi^ction." 



To Mr. F. a. Michaux. 



" Philadelphia, June 6th, 1812. 

 " My Dear Friend. 



" I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you, dated April 10, 1812; 

 but, living at Mr. Bartram's, I have not yet seen Mr. Correa, the gentleman who 

 brought it over. I have also had the great satisfaction of examining the plates 

 of your four numbers of Forest Trees, which are beautifully executed ; and I 

 regret most sincerely that my little knowledge of the French language* pre- 

 vents me from perusing with equal satisfaction the interesting particulars you 

 relate of their history, I expected long before this to be able to congratulate 

 you on the publication of a translation of your work here, and [ announced 

 the same in the preface to one of my volumes ; but sorry I am to inform you 

 that no steps have yet been taken to put that design in execution, and I fear 

 none will be taken for many months to come. Unless there be an evident 

 certainty of profit, booksellers, in general, are very indiff'erent to publish 



* Wilson's ignorance of French was a great disadvantage to him ; and he never ceased 

 to regret his want of instruction in a tongue, which is considered not only important to 

 the fcholar, but indispensable to the naturalist. The number of works, in the various 

 depnrtmpnts of Nntural History, which France annually produces, is truly astonishing ; 

 and fortunate is that student whose acquirements in her language enable him to profit of 

 the knowledge of this illustrious nation. 



