But birds were more attractive to him than boys. They commanded him, as the nightingale did the gypsy steward, and he followed them into untrodden wildernesses. Thomas Bradford undertook to publish Wilson's colossal "Ornithology." It was to be distinctly an "American" work. It was to be printed on American paper; and Amies, the paper-maker, even declared that he would use only "American" rags in making it. Seven volumes appeared during the author's life, or between 1808 and 1813. Wilson published the "Rural Walk" in Brown's _Literary Magazine_ of August, 1804, and the "Solitary Tutor" in the same publication, October, 1804. The former poem was reprinted in the _Port Folio_ of April 27, 1805. Dennie was charmed with the poem, and explained that he reprinted it because the author "delights in pictures of American scenery and landscape, and wisely therefore leaves to European poets their nightingales and skylarks, and their _dingles_ and _dells_. He makes no mention of yews and myrtles, nor echoes a single note of either bullfinch or chaffinch, but faithfully describes American objects, though not entirely in the American idiom." The following four stanzas from the "Rural Walk" may give a conception of Wilson's close observation and nice fidelity to nature. "Down to the left was seen afar The whitened spire of sacred name,[17] And ars'nal, where the god of war Has hung his spears of bloody fame. "There upward where it (Schuylkill) gently bends, And Say's red fortress tow'rs in view,[18] The floating bridge its length extends-- A lively scene forever new. "There market-maids in lively rows, With wallets white, were riding home, And thundering gigs, with powdered beaux, Through Gray's green festive shades to roam. "Sweet flows the Schuylkill's winding tide By Bartram's green emblossom'd bowers, Where nature sports in all her pride Of choicest plants and fruits and flowers." [17] Christ Church. [18] Dr. Benjamin Say's house at Gray's Ferry. Wilson, in 1804, undertook a journey to Niagara. The adventures by the way and the sight of the stupendous cataract supply the theme of his longest and most ambitious poem, "The Foresters." It was published with illustrations in successive numbers of the _Port Folio_ of 1809, Volumes I, II and III. The entire poem contained 2,000 lines. The _Literary Magazine_ contains a part of the poem. This appearance, I believe, has never been noted. It is to be found in Volume IV, page 155. The lines were written August 12, 1805, and were published in the same month. In the literary intelligence of the same month the future publication of "The Foresters" is glanced at.