62 Boston Society of Natural History 



JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 



Audubon spent the winter of 1832 and 1833 in Boston. His closest friends in 

 Boston were among the members of the B. S. N. H., such as Dr. Thomas Brewer, 

 Dr. B. D. Greene, Dr. George C. Shattuck, Dr. John C. Warren, Dr. Augustus 

 Gould. It was during this winter that he became a member of the Society. He 



O mi 



was also in Boston during part of 1836. The B. S. N. H. subscribed to Audu- 

 bon's Birds of America, various members each subscribing so much toward its 

 purchase. Col. Thomas H. Perkins, who was one of these subscribers, later gave 

 the whole work (consisting of four folio volumes) to the Society, who sold its 

 copy on receipt of this gift. The cost of these books to-day could hardly be 

 estimated, and the Society's set is kept in a special locked case. Much material 

 used in these books was obtained from the Society's members. 



During the winter of 1832-33, Audubon became critically ill because of over- 

 work, and was nursed back to health by Dr.George Parkman, Dr. George Shat- 

 tuck, and Dr. John C. Warren. The last two were active members of the Society. 



Healy, in his Reminiscences of a Portrait Painter, says of Audubon's portrait: 



" When I was in London as a very young man, in 1838, the great natural- 

 ist Audubon visited the British metropolis. He was received with delight by 

 all the American colony, and I naturally took part in that demonstration of 

 enthusiasm. 



"Audubon was of French extraction, born in New Orleans, but his family 

 for two generations had been American citizens. He was a very simple man, a 

 little rough in appearance, with long shaggy black hair, and the most piercing 

 eyes I ever saw, — real eagle eyes. 



"I called upon him and asked him to sit to me. He assured me that though 

 he was greatly flattered, he could not possibly spare the time. He had come 

 to London to bring out his big book on birds, and was too much absorbed by 

 this work to think of sitting. Then, as he was a kindly man, he added: 'I have 

 but my evenings to offer to you.' 



"Doubtless he thought to escape me in that way. But artists are persever- 

 ing; I am peculiarly so. 



" 'The very thing, my dear sir! I shall make an original portrait by gas-light." 



"The great man was caught, and very graciously accepted his defeat. 



"1 painted him in a costume he wore when he went in search of his birds — 

 a sort of backwoodsman's dress. The portrait was a curiously bright one, as 

 though it had been painted in full sunshine. 



"In the course of conversation Audubon discovered that I was in love with 

 a young English girl; he became at once very friendly and communicative, assur- 

 ing me that a good marriage was the only real happiness one could hope for in 



