464 



Audubon. 



Louisiana. It was standing", as nearly as can be represented, in the position 

 in which you now see it, and upon the prostrate trunk of a tree, not far from 

 a fence. My drawing of it was made on the spot," &c. 



And again, at page 91, " The Carolina Turtle Dove." 



" I have tried, kind reader, to give you a faithful representation of two as 

 gentle pairs of Turtles as ever cooed their loves in the green woods. I have 

 placed them on a branch of Stuartia, which you see ornamented with a pro- 

 fusion of white blossoms, emblematic of purity and chastity. 



" Look at the female, as she ,assiduously sits on her eggs, embosomed 

 among the thick foliage, receiving food from the bill of her mate, and listen- 

 ing with delight to his assurances of devoted affection. Nothing is wanting 

 to render the moment as happy as could be desired by any couple on a similar 

 occasion. 



" On the branch above, a love scene is just commencing. The female, 

 still coy and undetermined, seems doubtful of the truth of her lover, and 

 virgin-like resolves to put his sincerity to the test, by delaying the gratifica- 

 tion of his wishes. She has reached the extremity of the branch, her wings 

 and tail are already opening, and she will fly off to some more sequestered 

 spot, where, if her lover should follow her with the same assiduous devotion, 

 they will doubtless become as blessed as the pair beneath them. 



" The Dove announces the approach of spring. Nay, she does more : — 

 she forces us to forget the chilling blasts of winter, by the soft and melan- 

 choly sound of her cooing. Her heart is already so warmed and so swelled 

 by the ardour of her passion, that it feels as ready to expand as the buds on 

 the trees are, under the genial influence of returning heat." 



But to do perfect justice to his genius, we must, at the same 

 time, see the beautiful drawing where these turtle doves are 

 represented ; then, indeed, we perceive that nature has not spo- 

 ken to him in vain, and that he can express the feelings she has 

 inspired him with, with great force. 



Even the dear little house-wren, he has given us a most 

 pleasing and minute account of. What can be more amusing, 

 cheerful, and ridiculous, at the same time, than the family pic- 

 ture of plate 83, where the nest is in an old hat, stuck on a 

 twig, the male beginning his song on the edge of the hat, and 

 the anxious mother arriving with a fine fat spider, which one 

 of the pets is squeezing himself through a hole to get at : and 

 then this family history is followed up, so as to give us a direct 

 interest in all the wren family, wherever we may meet them. 



" When the young issue from the nest, it is interesting to see them follow 

 the parents amongst the currant bushes in the gardens, like so many mice, 

 hopping from twig to twig, throwing their tails upwards, and putting their 



