AMONG THE BIRDS. 25

for gratification in the cabinet of M. de Becceur,
who possessed one of the finest collections of Euro-
pean birds I have seen. I had hitherto known no
better method of preserving the skins of birds than
by flattening them in large books: I now found
that by stuffing them I could make them retain
their natural forms.

“During a stay of two years in Germany, and
seven in Lorraine and Alsace, I made prodigious
havoc among the birds. I was also willing to be
acquainted with their manners and the distinction
of their various species, and have often passed
whole weeks in watching to procure myself a pair.
From long living among them, in fields, woods,
and their most concealed retreats, I learned readily
to distinguish the species as well as the sexes, and
constantly gathered more and more information in
this part of natural history, which, however, was
far from contenting me. I longed to act on a more
extended field, and only waited till occasion should
serve.”

What plan of education the parents of Le Vail-
Jant had adopted, or whether they designed him
for any profession, is not known. The only hint
preserved on this subject is an incidental observa-
tion in his Travels, that his father insisted upon his
acquiring a number of languages. Dutch he spoke
fluently—probably learnt in childhood; German