CouES: “Behind the Veil ” 
201 
of the “Black Warrior ” (Falco harlanii Aud.), a bird which has 
puzzled successive ornithologists not a little. 
Following this letter of Audubon’s is one from MacGillivray to 
Audubon, which possesses special historical value as bearing upon 
the share the Scottish ornithologist had in the make-up of Audu- 
bon’s work. It belongs to Mr. Wade, who allowed me to take a 
copy. It is already pretty well understood that MacGillivray “ did ” 
the technical portions of the “ Birds of America ” for Audubon ; 
i. e., furnished the nomenclature, the classification, much of the 
technical description, and probably all of the anatomical matter. 
As I have lately said in my Bibliography, while detailing these cir- 
cumstances, “there seems to have been some mutually satisfactory 
understanding between the two which has never been made public.” 
This letter of MacGillivray’s was a windfall to me as a bibliographer ; 
for I had said so much, unsupported by documentary evidence, that 
I feared I had laid myself liable to censure. The letter shows that 
the “satisfactory understanding” between Audubon and MacGillivray 
was an ordinary business transaction “ for value received.” Mr. 
Swainson, I think, has somewhere had something to say on the sub- 
ject, though I forget exactly where ; but whatever he may have said 
of the kind, and all that I have had to say, is here at last fully 
established over MacGillivray’s own signature. I should judge, also, 
that this letter is a very characteristic one ; for its sturdy inde- 
pendence, express indifference to Audubon’s proposal, and unguarded 
candor, accord well with the impression I have formed of the 
writer’s personality. I may add, that in this letter, and in all of 
several others I have seen, the name is written MacGillivray, not 
Macgillivray, as we are in the habit of seeing it printed. 
But it is time for me to say “good-night” to my host, Mr. Wade ; 
and in so doing I also make my respectful compliments to Audubon 
and MacGillivray, leaving these joint authors of the “Birds of 
America” to speak for themselves through the two following let- 
ters, which, I need not add, are printed, as nearly as the type will 
do it, verb. lit. et punct. after the originals.* 
* Since I penned this article, Dr. T. M. Brewer’s eulogy of Audubon has 
appeared in “Harper’s Magazine” for October. Comparison of the several let- 
ters it contains with the one here given will show how well they have been 
edited. The fimcifulness of the sketch is condoned by the warmth of friend- 
ship and sincerity of admiration which pervade it. 
