at the agreeable ease and rare enlightenment of the stranger's conversation.

Having visited Audubon expressly for the purpose of seeing his representations of birds, which he had heard were accompanied by those of shrubs and plants, his impatience to inspect the portfolios at once was very evident. He was struck with the drawing of a plant which appeared new to him. With a characteristic scepticism, however, which led him to believe only in his own discoveries, or such as, owning the prestige of age, had, according to Malebranche's expression, acquired a "venerable beard,” he denied the existence of such a plant. As it was very common in the neighbourhood, Audubon promised to show it to him on the morrow.

"Why to-morrow ?" exclaimed he; "let us go now." On reaching the bank of the river, he was convinced of the truth of the representation. Plucking the plants mercilessly one after the other, he danced, hugged them in his arms, and crying out that he had not merely a new species, but a new genus, he seemed on the verge of delirium from delight. Yet was his incredulity in no degree diminished with regard to other matters. Again within doors, the windows were opened to admit the summer air. The light of the candles attracted the insects, and among them a large species of Scaraboens. Audubon

A CONTEST WITH BATS.

55

having one, showed it to his guest, assuring him that it was so strong, that it would crawl'on the table with a candlestick on his back.

“I should like to see the experiment made, Mr. Audubon,” De Thouville replied.

It was accordingly done, the insect dragging its burthen till, on reaching the edge of the table, it dropped to the ground, and then took to flight.*

All had retired to rest, when Audubon was surprised by an uproar in the naturalist's apartment. On reaching it, to inquire the cause, what was his surprise at the now still more singular appearance of his guest, no longer attired in costume eccentric, or otherwise. Running about, he was engaged in a sanguinary contest with the bats, which had entered by the open windowhis only weapon the handle of Audubon's favourite violin, which had been demolished in the fray. Uninterrupted by the entrance of his amazed visitor, he continued his extraordinary gyrations. Round and round he went, with the monotony of a dervish, till so exhausted as to be scarcely able to request Audubon to procure one of the animals for him, as he felt convinced that they belonged to a “new species.”

* See Dalton's “British Guiana,” in which a similar experiment is described.

A small rap on each of the bats from Audu. bon, brought him specimens enough. The contest thus arrived at a successful issue, Audubon departed, not without a wondering glance at the scene of warfare the room presented. The remains of the stricken birds were strewn over it, and a confused heap of plants which, a little while since, carefully selected into groups, were now in irrevocable disorder.

De Thouville remained some days under the hospitable roof of his new friend, during which these fellow-labourers diligently pursued their respective occupations. He naturally desired, before departing, some memorial of the time and place, which might also assist his researches in vegetation, and enrich his possessions. The Cane Brakes, which formerly spread over the Kentucky State, interspersed with plants of every description, tempted the imagination of the naturalist. Little was he aware of the difficulties of effecting a passage through those formidable mazes, where the hunters cut a pathway with their knives, and underwood, heavy perhaps with sleet or rain, which comes down to the discomfort of the poor traveller, as he bends the foliage, and presses his way through. At De Thouville's urgent request, however, the companions set forth, Audubon not without a sly and somewhat malicious resolve to gratify his