Vol.XXX•V] 1917 ] BURNS,Miss Lawson'sRecollections. 275 sprucebranches clos•to the trunk, thirty feet up. It containedbitsof egg shell, and appearedto have been broken up by somemammal. Regulus calendula calendula. RUBY-CROWNEDKINGLET.--Coln- mon, breeds. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. 0•VE-B•CKEB THRUSH.--Abun- dant breedingbird. Nestsbuilding, just completedor with eggswere found during the entire period of both visits, and with young after the middle of June. Hylocichla guttata pallaM. HERroT THRUSH.--Common. Breeds. Nests with four eggseach, incubationnearly complete,were found June 18, 1915, and June 11, 1916, and a nest with three fresh eggs,June 24, 1916. Plax•esticusmigratorius migratorius. RotaN.-- Abundantbreeding bird, nestsbeing found everywhere,even out in fairly densesecond growth woods. One nest containedyoung nearly ready to leave it on June 21; another held three nearly fresh eggs,June 24. 8ialia sialis si•lis. BnUEmRB.--A very few seen. A nest containing young and one addled egg was found on June 9, 1916.

MISS LAWSON'S RECOLLECTIONS OF ORNITHOLOGISTS.

BY FRANK L. BURNS.

IN a batch of papers relating to the life of Alexander Wilson loanedme by the late FrederickB. McKechnie,I found an inter- estingseries of lettersrunning from June21, 1879,to February20, 1883, signed by Malvina Lawson. The matter which appeared most valuablewas copiedverbatim but owingto my friend'sdesire to publish,it was scarcelydrawn upon for my paperson Wilson. Mr. McKechnie's sad death occurredbefore he was able to carry out his intention and the original letters having beenlost or de- stroyed,it seemsdesirable to publishmy extracts. Miss Lawson was the eldest daughterof AlexanderLawson, who was born in Ravenstruthers, Scotland, December 19, 1773; came to Phila- delphia in May, 1792, and died there August 22, 184(;. He is describedas a tall thin 1nanof large frame and athletic; fall of animation,good feelingand the love of truth, but inclinedto be satirical. Miss Lawsonsays: "My father has beenrepresented as 276 BNs, MissLawsoh's Recollections. o [July[Auk speakingbroad Scotchwhich is simply ridiculous,I never heard him use a Scottishword exceptin jest or in readinghis favorite Scottishpoets." He engravedplates for the 'American ' of Alex- ander Wilson and Charles ; 's un- publishedwork on mammals; the 'Monograph of the Fresh- Water Univalve Mollusca' of Prof. Samuel S. Haldeman and the 'Terrestlal and Air-BreathingMollusks' of Dr. Amos Binney,be- side various illustrationson botany, chemistry and mineralogy. There were eight children, five of whom reached maturity: Malvina, Helen E., Catherine, Oscar A. and Mary, all inheriting the artistic talents of their parent. Malvina and Helen colored by handmost of the platesof Ord'sedition of Wilson's'Ornithology' a.ndwhatever superiority it p•ossessesis entirely due to the skillof the girl artists. It is said that with the beautiful preparations from the Museum for models,they labored steadily at this work for three years and receivedfive thousanddollars, at that time an almostunheard of sum for two young girls to earn. Helen, perhapsthe most versatileof the sisters,executed the drawings for the works on conchologyby Prof. Haldeman and Dr. Binney, and also engraved the life-sized figure of the Rice Bunting used in HarrisonHall's prospectusof Wilson's'Orni- thology.' Oscarwas born in Philadelphia,August 7, 1813; learned engraving under his father; was' employedby the U.S. Coast Surveyat Washingtonfrom 1841to 1851,and died in Philadelphia, September6, 1854. The survivingsisters, Miss Malvina and Mrs. Mary L. Birck- head, removedto West Chester,Pa., in 1872, where the former died on April 6, 1884. Mr. R. P. Sharplesof West Chester,to whomI am indebtedfor much information,was well acquaintedwith the sisters and recognizedthem as ladies of great refinement and culture. Amongthe family treasureswas a handsomeoil painting by Miss Malvina of her three sistersand a sketchbook containing the work of all membersof the family. Miss Lawson was born about1806; shepossessed a strong personality, a vigorousmind and was most loyal to her friends; yet it is to be feared that certain unfortunateevents resulting in the loss of long cherishedfamily treasures,somewhat embittered her later days. Mrs. Birckhead, Vol. 1917XXXIV] J BvR•rs,Miss Lawsoh's Recollections. 277 who was twenty years younger,survived her sister but a short time and the fa•nily is now without a living representative. Miss Lawson writes of her father's distinguishedvisitors with an artist's love of detail and all the franknessof an impressionable child. How well she recalls a little act of kindnessby good old William Bartram, and her descriptionof the personalappearance of AlexanderWilson ought to set to rest the talk of his absolute poverW and especiallythat of his "fingers stiflenedby toil and manual labor." It has been said that Wilson owed little to his engraver,but it is shownhere that he sometimesmade only an outlinedrawing leaving Lawson to fill in the detailsdirectly from the specimen;and this must be true sincedrawings of this nature are still in existence. Miss Lawson's analysisof the character of George Ord can scarcelybe excelled. Ord, admirablein many ways, was insanely intolerantof any oppositionand was the instigatorof the persecu- tion of John J. Audubon by Waterton and others. The only pleasingfeature of this attack is the refusal of "Good Charles" Bonaparteto allow his judgment to be swayedby the prejudice of his friends. But we shall let Miss Lawsontell of thesethings in her own way. Of Bartram she writes, "When a child I saw Mr. Bartram. He was a very charmingold gentlemanand he gave me a very doubleyellow rose, a great rarity at that time, and every summerwe mademore than one excursionto the garden." "The article on the death of [GovernorMeriwether] Lewis," shewrites, "recalled to my mind hearingmy father speakof him as beingone of the most proud and sensitiveof human beings. The neglectof the Governmentto ratify the arrangementshe had made in goodfaith, seemedto maddenhim. He was rather small and dark; in strong contrast to Clark his companion. My father engravedthe new Antelopethey discovered,and the Horned Sheep of the Rocky Mountains. They certainly were the first animals (mammals)fit to be looked at that were ever engravedin this country." The Wilson matter follows: "I do not feel certain whether the profile likeness(of Wilson) drawn by Barralet, was taken before or after death. My father said it did not do him justice althoughit gave someidea of him. Barralet had been a teacherof drawingin England and Ireland, 278 BvR•s,Miss Lawson's Recolleclio•cs. [_July[ Auk and you seehe knew somethingof engravingas he copiedhis own work in stipplewhich was fashionablein that day. He certainly took a goodprofile, as the one he made of father proves." "Wilson was very particular on the subjectof the linen he wore, and the white cravat and ruffleswere as important to him as a fine ladies'dress is to her. I am certain of all I say on this matter, not from my own memory but from the discussionsI have con- stantly heard all my youth on the habits and mannersof a man whose work has rendered him famous. My father received numberlessvisitors from all parts of the world, and particularly Scotland; who desired to learn everything concerninghim. He might have been a little careless,but nothing eccentric; his dress was that of other gentlemenof the period. Wilson was almost a pure type of the bilioustemperament, which you are awareis one best fitted for constant exertion, either mental or physical. He could bear great fatigue without flinching. His height was five feet and eleveninches. When preparingfor one of Irisexpeditions he was in the habit of taking a walk every morning,increasing the distance daily and when he could make twenty miles without much fatigue, he started on his journey." "Some twaddle speaksof his bony handsknotted and hardened by labor, strugglingto paint birds! In the first placeWilson never painted birds, he drew them in water colors,and more frequently in outline, either with pencil or pen, and my father finished them from th• birds themselves. I have hem'dmy mother speakof his hands as being small and delicate, and there was nothing in his occupationto particularly injure his hands; as I mentionedbefore, he wrote beautifully and played charminglyon the flute." "I think I mentioned the drawing of Wilson's schoolhouse my sisterHelen had made when quite a young girl, many years before Mr. Weaver's; it hasthe old treesaround it and is very picturesque. Mr. Eastwick who purchasedBartram's garden, saw it and pro- nounced it excellent and indeed historical." "The tomb which coversthe remains of Wilson was erected by the lady he was to have married,Miss SarahMiller, sisterof the Hon. Daniel Miller, Member of Congressfrom the upper section of the City. The Swedes'church now occupiesan obscureportion of Philadelphia,but at that time it was open to the Delaware and Vol. 1917XXXIV] J BURNS,Miss Lawson's Recollections. 279 nearly in the country, so that the old Lutheran pastor could see his apple orchardfrmn his pulpit. Many years ago, a gentle,nan •nuch interested in Wilson, was anxious to have his re•nains trans- ferred to Laurel Hill Ce•netery, a beautiful and picturesqueplace on the banks of the Schuylkill; he consultedmy father who saw no objectionbut on applying to Mr. Ord, who was the sole sur- viving executor, he positively refused to permit the removal." "Rider, the artist who undertookthe coloringof Wilson'sfirst edition, was a Swisspainter in oils; he understoodwater colors however,but to facilitatehis work, spoileda great•nany copies by usingopaque colors both in Wilson'sand afterwardsin Bonaparte's works. Of coursenone of this troublewas felt in the sa•neway by Bonaparte,although he cronplainsbitterly of Rider." GeorgeOrd, Wilson'sbiographer and editorof the latter volumes of his work Miss Lawson knew personally. Of him she writes: "Mr. Ord was a very singularperson, very excitable,ahnost of pure nervous te•nperament. Proud, shy and reservedtoward strangers;but expansiveand brilliant with his friends; an elegant bellesdettres scholar and when he chose, shone in conversation. In his •noral character and his business relations he was one of the •nost upright of •nen. He had many excellentqualities, was a strongpartizan and was charmingin conversationwhen it pleased him to be so. He had •nuchof the nervousgrace of a womanwhen he spoke on literary or senti•nentalsubjects. I re•ne•nbermy father laughingheartily when I was about nine yearsold; I said I thoughtMr. Ord conversedlike a winnan,and beingasked why I thought so, I said: becausehe could show off all his knowledge to the best advantage. He particularly detestedchildren and the fegr of intrudingon hi•n accmnpanied•ne all his life. He would get in a teenperof rage at ti•nes. Father, who valued his good qualities,never very steadily opposedhi,n; but my mother had •nany argumentswith hi•n. I have seenhim snatch up his hat and rush out of the house,declaring he would never enter again, and the next Sunday he would walk in to tea a usual as if nothing had happened. He took tea at our houseevery Sundayfor years. He was very •nuchrespected but not very muchloved. He would often speakvery rudely to gentle•nen,and •nore than oncefather was consultedas to whether Mr. Ord should receive a challenge for what he said,but father was alwaysa peace•naker." 280 BvR•-s,Miss Lawson's Recollections. [July[Auk

"Toward the closeof hislife he did somequem' things. He must have desta'oyedthe likenessof himselfthat his sonpainted and also the plates that my father engravedfor his proposedwork on .animals(quadrupeds); nothing of the kind was found amonghis effects and not a line of the descriptionsI know he had written. I-Ie droppedthis work on a reverseof fortune; havinglost heavily in raih'oads. Had the work been continued it would have been an honor to the country. There are only two works that would have approachedit: Scotts'Dogs and Churehs'Horses. There were 0nly four plates engraved. Mr. Ord allowed the Academy of Natural Sciencesto print a limited numberof copiesfrom the plates of the Rat and Ground Hog, I think about 100 impressions.I have only one copy of the frontispiece,a group of the smaller Quach'upeds,Weasel &e. drawn by Le Sueur,a Frenchartist, and very prettily engraved. I wish I could sendyou entirely finished copies,but the Ground Hog is the only one that is so. The Elk and the Florida Rat m'e not finished,as you will observeon the impressionsof the Rat that my father has written 'unfinished.' In the Ord letter edited by Dr. Coues, he mentionspresenting impressionsto Leach of the . Mr. Ord often expresseda determinationthat no one should profit by these engravingsand no one has done so. To his other odditieshe added the last whim of leaving all he died possessedof, about $40,000. to the Penn. Hospital for the Insane, although he had nephewsand niecesin very limited circumstances.Toward the closeof his life he shut himselfout entirelyfrom the world, living with his books. He had lost most of his old friends and made no Ilew ones. '• "Chm'lesBonaparte," writes Miss Lawson, "married one of his eousins(Zenaide) a daughterof Joseph,ex-king of Spain. She accompaniedher husbandseveral times to our house. Her sis- ter Charlette, Joseph'syoungest daughter, was quite an artist. While she lived with her father at Bordentown, she took several views on the Delaware. Mr. Ord accompaniedher on some of theseoccasions and saidthat he had neverseen such a rapid pencil. She afterward engravedall the drawingsshe took here, on stone, and Charles Bonaparte gave father impressionsof her work. 'Shemarried a cousin,I thinka sonof Jerome,who also was an Vol. 1917XXXI¾] J Bracts,Miss Lawson's Recollections. 281 artist and etched very spiritedlyon copper. Charlessent this with someof his sister-in-law'sdrawings from Florence." "I do not knowwhether you ever sawany uneoloredimpressions of Bonaparte'swork? Every one said it was a pity they should ever be colored. The Condor in particular is wonderfuland so are some of the Geese." "I do not know the commencementof the strife, but the advent of the Princeof Munsignoset the wholeAcademy [at Philadelphia] by the ears. He appearedto make warm friends and equally warm enemies. He wouldcome to father and tell him in high glee of the last war-whoopand its effect,laughing heartily. For a time he seemedto take a sort of boyishdelight in settingthem all by the ears,but he grewtired of the fussand I think it was onereason of his return to Europe." "I only caught a glimpseof Mr. Waterton when he called on father; he was the darkest white man I ever saw. He left a bird set up in the style he had invented,for father to examine. It was the mostperfect thing I eversaw, not a featherwas rumpled. It was hollowand the shapeof the bird carefullypreserved. Father did not think it wouldlast longand I believethis was the ease." "I have no doubt Mr. Ord doesnot spare Audubon,I have heardhim expatiatetoo frequentlyon that subjectnot to be fully aware of his bitter scornand contempt. I saw Audubonwhen Bonaparte brought him to see father. He looked like the back- woodsmenthat visit the city. His hair hung on his shouldersand his neck was open." "Ord wrote Lawson from , dated Mar. 14, 1830: 'You make somepretty tart remarksupon the work of that imposture Audubon,who has endeavoredto keep the public curiosityalive for a longtime. Your criticismsare just and men of intelligence will be obligedto acknowledgethem. If one of your uncommon experiencebe not a completejudge of thesematters; then in the name of commonsense who is judge? You tell me that a certain Professorof Botanydeclared that the drawingsof the plantsare excellent. Now I have the pleasureof conversingwhen in London with two botanistsquite as well knownas SolomanC., onewas the illustriousRobert Brown, they both assertedthat the Botany of Audubon'splates was good for nothing. What is the fellow doing in America? He surely cannotbe in want of matter, for 282, MissLawsoh's Recollections. [AukI_July what he carriedto Europewould suitice for a long time. Did he expect to procuresubscribers? If so he surely made a mistake. I hope I. C. will prevail with the Library eom. to subscribefor a copy; otherwiseI fear that when one wants to examinethe Ele- phant with a view of studying its character, one will not know where to find it.' "Another letter written by Ord about 1838, from the home of Waterton, Walton Hall, Wakefield,Eng.: 'By the way, someof Waterton'sessays would amuse you vastly; he givessome terrible thrustsat Audubon. Lizars of Edinburgh,Audubon's first engraver, was here a few days ago; if I had room I wouldtell you what he saidof the greatornithologist whose reputation is sadlyon the wane.' "Here is an extract from a letter of in reply to one from Lawson: 'Rome, July 2, 1836. As to Audu- bon, althoughhis work is not faultless;be sure you under rate him a little too much. There is somemerit in someof his plates, that of the Goldfinchappears to mevery superior. I am sorryto hear that he had sucha bad receptionin the U.S. I have got him several subscribers. I cannottake your wickedcommission to Temminek for I have scoldedhim severelyfor not subscribingto the work at my recommendations. Someof Audubon's plates are superiorto Temminek's,who vilifies them. As to Audubon's new species,I shallnever rely on that; slight variationsdo not make new species.' "The only acquaintanceI had with Nuttall," writes Miss Lawson, "was when I coloredhis plates in his continuationof Miehaux's work on the treesof America. You know the drawing and coloringof the originalMiehaux were exquisite. Nuttall had his coloringmade up from other works,espeeially from Miehaux. Nuttall himself was the least attractive of the Genus Homo I ever met. I could never imagine any Englishman so dirty and dis- orderly in his dressand appearance. I supposehe was a good botanist. I have heard youngmen who studiedwith him, speak of him with great respectas a teacher,but I thought his manners rough and abrupt." In a five page referenceto Dr. Coues' criticism of someof her father's work, Miss Lawson writes: "Never again will such en- graving be seen! The day of fine work of that kind is over; and except one or two English works on natural history, nothing has approachedit."