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If some of the denizens of Hawker's Creek look familiar, at least artistically, it is because the set of characters gathered together as the Witnesses (* See note below) in our story are items showing birds painted by one of America's best-loved artists, John James Audubon (1785- 1851).Audubon's ornithological portraits were criticized following the publication of his Birds of America series (1827- 38) as being "fanciful" and "unscientific." Be that as it may, his art is remarkable for individualizing the creatures that capture his imagination. Audubon did not limit his interest to birds, as his later collection, Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America (1846- 53) attests. The title may go some way toward explaining why it never rivaled "Birds" in sales.
The three Confessors in our tale are from the following countries:
The Fischhadler (or Fish Hawk), who might be construed as wearing a mask, is found on a German Democratic Republic issue of 1982 (Scott 2265).
The New Zealand Kiwi (Scott 922) had the right combination of vulnerability, Reubenesque charm, and coyness to pass the screen test for the femme fatale, a kind of plump Ingrid Bergman is what I had in mind.
The Abyssinian Ground Hornbill depicted on a 1962 Guinea issue, suggests a meddler, the perfect characteristic for the adoptive "Mother".
Finally, the Red Footed Falcon (on Poland 2076) seems to have the essential elements of detached observation and authority to qualify for a "Magistrate".
(*) The Puzzler has details about the curious set of stamps depicting the "Witnesses".
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