456 T H E ECCENTRIC NATURALIST.
long loose coat of yellow nankeen, much the worse of the many rubs it had
got in its time, and stained all over with the juice of plants, hung loosely
about him like a sac. A waistcoat of the same, with enormous pockets,
and buttoned up to the chin, reached below over a pair of tight pantaloons,
the lower parts of which were buttoned down to the ankles. His
beard was as long as I have known my own to be during some of my
peregrinations, and his lank black hair hung loosely over his shoulders.
His forehead was so broad and prominent that any tyro in phrenology
would instantly have pronounced it the residence of a mind of strong
powers. His words impressed an assurance of rigid truth, and as he directed
the conversation to the study of the natural sciences, I listened to
him with as much delight as Telemachus could have listened to Mentor.
He had come to visit me, he said, expressly for the purpose of seeing my
drawings, having been told that my representations of birds were accompanied
with those of shrubs and plants, and he was desirous of knowing
whether I might chance to have in my collection any with which he was
unacquainted. I observed some degree of impatience in his request to be
allowed at once to see what I had. We returned to the house, when I
opened my portfolios and laid them before him.
He chanced to turn over the drawing of a plant quite new to him.
After inspecting it closely, he shook his head, and told me no such plant
existed in nature ;—for, kind reader, M. de T. although a highly scientific
man, was suspicious to a fault, and believed such plants only to exist
as he had himself seen, or such as, having been discovered of old, had, according
to Father MALEBRANCHE'S expression, acquired a " venerable
beard.-" I told my guest that the plant was common in the immediate
neighbourhood, and that I should shew it him on the morrow. " And
why to morrow, Mr AUDUBON ? let us go now.'1 We did so, and on
reaching the bank of the river, I pointed to the plant. M. de T. I thought
had gone mad. He plucked the plants one after another, danced, hugged
me in his arms, and exultingly told me that he had got not merely a
new species, but a new genus. When we returned home, the naturalist
opened the bundle which he had brought on his back, and took out a
journal rendered water-proof by means of a leather case, together with a
small parcel of linen, examined the new plant, and wrote its description.
The examination of my drawings then went on. You would be pleased,
kind reader, to hear his criticisms, which were of the greatest advantage
THE ECCENTRIC N A T U R A L I S T . 457
to me, for, being well acquainted with books as well as with nature, he
was well fitted to give me advice.
It was summer, and the heat was so great that the windows were all
open. The light of the candles attracted many insects, among which was
observed a large species of Scarabseus. I caught one, and, aware of his
inclination to believe only what he should himself see, I shewed him the
insect, and assured him it was so strong that it would crawl on the table
with the candlestick on its back. " I should like to see the experiment
made, Mr AUDUBON," he replied. It was accordingly made, and the
insect moved about, dragging its burden so as to make the candlestick
change its position as if by magic, until coming upon the edge of the
table, it dropped on the floor, took to wing, and made its escape.
When it waxed late, I shewed him to the apartment intended for him
during his stay, and endeavoured to render him comfortable, leaving him
writing materials in abundance. I was indeed heartily glad to have a
naturalist under my roof. We had all retired to rest. Every person I
imagined was in deep slumber save myself, when of a sudden I heard a
great uproar in the naturalises room. I got up, reached the place in a few
moments, and opened the door, when, to my astonishment, I saw my
guest running about the room naked, holding the handle of my favourite
violin, the body of which he had battered to pieces against the walls in
attempting to kill the bats which had entered by the open window,
probably attracted by the insects flying around his candle. I stood
amazed, but he continued jumping and running round and round, until
he was fairly exhausted, when he begged me to procure one of the animals
for him, as he felt convinced they belonged to " a new species." Although
I was convinced of the contrary, I took up the bow of my demolished
Cremona, and administering a smart tap to each of the bats as
it came up, soon got specimens enough. The war ended, I again bade him
good night, but could not help observing the state of the room. It was
strewed with plants, which it would seem he had arranged into groups,
but which were now scattered about in confusion. " Never mind, Mr
AUDUBON," quoth the eccentric naturalist, " never mind, 111 soon arrange
them again. I have the bats, and that's enough."
Several days passed, during which we followed our several occupations.
M. de T. searched the woods for plants, and I for birds. He also
followed the margins of the Ohio, and picked up many shells, which
he greatly extolled. With us, I told him, they were gathered into