Coues: “ Behind the Veil” 
195 
before how slender were the early attainments of the man in the 
science he finally illumined — nor, let me add, how great was the 
poverty, the privation, the difficulty, he surmounted.* Some of the 
letters attest his painful attempts to learn to draw — his failures 
and partial successes. Others give his field experiences with birds 
unknown to him at the time — such as the Pileated Woodpecker 
and Sparrow-Hawk. I infer from various signs that the names of 
birds which finally appeared in his work may be resolved into two 
categories : those of known species supplied to him by his friend 
Bartram, and those of birds unknown to Bartram and himself, the 
latter being the “ new species ” of his work. Having next to no 
books, and being no scholar, he necessarily described as new those 
birds which his mentor did not know the name of. Judged as pieces 
of literary composition, some of Wilson’s letters show a straight- 
forward simplicity of statement, often turned with an appearance of 
studied diction ; in short, they betray “ the schoolmaster abroad.” 
Others are composed with care, and are dignified and reserved, espe- 
cially in those portions w r here Mr. Wilson makes his respectful com- 
pliments to mutual friends ; in other cases, where the naturalist lays 
aside the pedagogue and rambles on paper as in the woods, the style 
is slovenly and even ungrammatical. One also continually en- 
counters some queer orthography — for this man was one who could 
not always spell correctly. 
Wilson’s handwriting was very variable, though an expert would 
probably recognize it in all its styles. The difference is specially no- 
ticeable in the signature. An early style, corresponding with that 
in which are written the words, “ Yours most sincerely,” that of 
which I give a fac-simile, was apparently succeeded by the better- 
known one, in which latter the words “ Alex. Wilson ” are some- 
* Wilson’s career will everlastingly amaze and confuse all persons who do 
not know what genius is ; for Wilson had nothing else, not even talent or 
“ability.” For the benefit of such persons, let me give a definition of that 
mysterious quality : Genius is that union of Passion and Patience which hears 
fruit unknown to Passion alone , to Patience alone impossible. 
