n his cheeks, giving the earnest of
health, as well as adding to the picturesque beauty of his face. The
form was perfect, and full of manly expression, and the pretty sky-blue
plaited pantaloons and close-fitting jacket of the same material, sat
gracefully on his well-turned limbs and arms. These garments were of
"cottonade," that beautiful and durable fabric peculiar to Louisiana,
and so well suited to the southern climate. A costly Panama hat cast
its shadow over the wavy curls and pictured cheek of this youth, and a
cloak of fine broad cloth, with velvet facings, hung loosely from his
shoulders. A slight moustache and imperial lent a manlier expression to
his chiselled features.

This young fellow was a Creole of Louisiana--a student of one of the
Jesuit Colleges of that State--and although very unlike what would be
expected from such a dashing personage, he was an ardent, even
passionate, lover of nature. Though still young, he was the most
accomplished botanist in his State, and had already published several
discoveries in the _Flora_ of the South.

Of course the expedition was to him a delightful anticipation. It would
afford the finest opportunity for prosecuting his favourite study in a
new field; one as yet almost unvisited by the scientific traveller. The
young Creole was known as Jules Besancon.

He was not the only naturalist of the party. Another was with us; one
who had already acquired a world-wide fame; whose name was as familiar
to the _savans_ of Europe as to his own countrymen. He was already an
old man, almost venerable in his aspect, but his tread was firm, and his
arm still strong enough to steady his long, heavy, double-barrelled
rifle. An ample coat of dark blue covered his body; his limbs were
enveloped in long buttoned leggings of drab cloth, and a cap of sable
surmounted his high, broad forehead. Under this his blueish grey eye
glanced with a calm but clear intelligence, and a single look from it
satisfied you that you were in the presence of a superior mind. Were I
to give the name of this person, this would readily be acknowledged.
For certain reasons I cannot do this. Suffice it to say, he was one of
the most distinguished of modern zoologists, and to his love for the
study we were indebted for his companionship upon our hunting
expedition. He was known to us as Mr A-- the "hunter-naturalist."
There was no jealousy between him and the young Besancon. On the
contrary, a si