PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA 301 



John James Audubon 



By Dr. C. HART MEHRIAM 



U. S. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 



Of the naturalists of America no one stands out in more picturesque 

 relief than Audubon, and no name is clearer than his to the hearts of 

 the American people. 



Born at an opportune time, Audubon undertook and accomplished 

 one of the most gigantic tasks that has ever fallen to the lot of one man 

 to perform. Although for years diverted from the path nature in- 

 tended him to follow, and tortured by half-hearted attempts at a com- 

 mercial life, against which his restive spirit rebelled, he finally, by the 

 force of his own will, broke loose from his bondage and devoted the 

 remainder of his days to the grand work that has made his memory 

 immortal. 



His principal contributions to science are his magnificent series 

 of illustrated volumes on the birds and quadrupeds of North America, 

 his Synopsis of Birds and the Journals of his expeditions to Labrador 

 and to the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. 



The preparation and publication of his elephant folio atlases of 

 life-size colored plates of birds, begun in 1827 and completed in 1838, 

 with the accompanying volumes of text (the ' Ornithological Biog- 

 raphy,' 1831-1839), was a colossal task. But no sooner was it accom- 

 plished than an equally sumptuous work on the mammals was under- 

 taken, and, with the assistance of Bachman, likewise carried to a 

 successful termination. For more than three quarters of a century 

 the splendid paintings which adorn these works, and which for spirit 

 and vigor are still unsurpassed, have been the admiration of the world. 



In addition to his more pretentious works, Audubon wrote a num- 

 ber of minor articles and papers and left a series of Journals, since 

 published by his granddaughter, Miss Maria B. Audubon. The 

 Journals are full to overflowing with observations of value to the 

 naturalist, and, along with the entertaining : Episodes,' throw a flood 

 of light on contemporary customs and events — and incidentally are by 

 no means to be lost sight of by the historian. 



In searching for material for his books, Audubon traveled thou- 

 sands of miles afoot in various parts of the eastern states, from Maine 

 to Louisiana; he also visited Texas, Florida and Canada, crossed the 

 ocean a number of times, and conducted expeditions to far-away Labra- 

 dor and the then remote Missouri and Yellowstone Bivers. When we 

 remember the limited facilities for travel in his clay — the scarcity of 

 railroads, steamboats and other conveniences — we are better prepared 

 to appreciate the zeal, determination and energy necessary to accom- 

 plish his self-imposed task. 



