50 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
I,’ these words being painted in large 
white characters. He walked as if con- 
scious of his own importance; that is, 
with a good deal of pomposity, singing, 
‘My love is but a lassie yet’ ; and that 
with such thorough imitation of the 
Scotch emphasis that had not his physi- 
ognomy suggested another parentage, I 
should have believed him to be a genu- 
ine Scot. A narrower acquaintance 
proved him to be a Yankee; and anx- 
ious to make his acquaintance, I desired 
to see his birds. He retorted, ‘What — 
the devil did I know about birds?’ I 
explained to him that I was a naturalist, 
whereupon he requested me to examine 
his birds. I did so with much interest, 
and was preparing to leave, when he 
bade me come to his lodgings and see 
the remainder of his collection. This 
I willingly did, and was struck with 
amazement at the appearance of his stu- 
dio. Several cages were hung about the 
walls, containing specimens of birds, all 
