Ixvi 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
I was up in your quarter, the rim of which had been eaten oflF, close 
to his head, by the rats, or, perhaps, cut off to make soles to his 
shoes; yet it was so common as to escape observation. I saw ano- 
ther fellow, too, at the tavern, who had pieces cut out of his hehindy 
like a swallow’s tail.” * ^ ^ 
The spring of the year 1805 gave to the enraptured view of 
our Naturalist his interesting feathered acquaintance. He listened 
to their artless songs; he noted their habitudes; he sketched their 
portraits. And, after having passed a few months varied with this 
charming occupation, he again writes to the respected inhabitant 
of the Botanic Garden : 
Union School, July 2, 1805. 
“ I dare say you will smile at my presumption, when I tell 
you that I have seriously begun to make a collection of drawings 
of the birds to be found in Pennsylvania, or that occasionally pass 
through it: twenty-eight, as a beginning, I send for your opinion. 
They are, I hope, inferior to what I shall produce, though as close 
copies of the originals as I could make. One or two of these I 
cannot find either in your nomenclature, or among the seven 
volumes of Edwards. I have never been able to find the bird 
Mr. Jefferson speaks of, and begin to think that it must be the 
Wood Robin, though it seems strange that he should represent it 
as so hard to be seen. Any hint for promoting my plan, or ena- 
bling me to execute better, I will receive from you with much 
pleasure. I have resigned every other amusement, except reading 
and fiddling, for this design, which I shall not give up without ma- 
king a fair trial. 
“ Criticise these, my dear friend, without fear of offending 
me — this will instruct, but not discourage me. — For there is not 
among all our naturalists one who knows so well what they are, 
and how they ought to be represented. In the mean time accept 
