Plate 244. Bien Edition.
The watercolor (see reference books) has one of Audubon’s most controversial poses.The male on the upper left, one of four, engages in what many viewers thought was an unnatural, albeit striking, mating dance for the single female. Audubon knew the image was true to nature, but he asked Havell to omit it from the Double Elephant Folio plate, in deference to the incredulity or sensitivities of some of his subscribers.
