AA AGREEABLE STUDIES.

“ Hyes and noses belonging to giants, and heads of
horses represented in ancient sculpture,” which
had been his models under this master, were imme
diately laid aside by the youthful naturalist when,
in his seventeenth year, he returned to America,
and with fresh ardour he resumed his researches in
the woods of his native land, and commenced a
collection of drawings which year by year accu-
mulated, and were at length published under the
title of ‘“‘The Birds of America.”

He has given a romantic picture of his subse-
quent career. It commences thus: “ In Pennsyl-
vania, a beautiful state, almost central on the line
of our Atlantic shores, my father, in his desire of
proving my friend through life, gave me what
Americans call a beautiful ‘ plantation,’ refreshed
during the summer-heats by the waters of the
Schuylkil river, and traversed by a creek named
Perkisming. Its fine woodlands, its extensive
fields, its hills, crowned with evergreens, offered
many subjects to my pencil. It was there that I
commenced my simple and agreeable studies, with
as little concern about the future as if the world
had been made for me. My rambles invariably
commenced at break of day; and to return wet
with dew, and bearing a feathered prize, was, and
ever will be, the highest enjoyment for which J]
have been fitted.”