44 INTRODUCTION. 



papers on botanical and zoological subjects were published 

 by him in the journals of the day. In 1818 he visited 

 the country west of the Alleghany mountauis, and was 

 soon after appointed Professor of Natural History in 

 Transylvania University, at Lexmgton, in Kentucky. 

 The residts of liis visit to the "West were exhibited in 

 several memoirs sent to Europe for publication, and in 

 others which appeared in tliis country. About this time 

 the faulty quaUties of his character began to increase, 

 and gradually overshadowed the more useful ones.* He 



' His personal habits and manners were at this time very peculiar and 

 eccentric, and indicated that diseased state of the mind, which, at a later 

 period, became more marked and decided. Mr. Audubon, in one of those 

 graphic episodes which relieve the scientific monotony of the early volumes 

 of liis Ornithological Biograjihy, has given a very amusing account of a 

 \asit made to him by M. Rafiuesque, at his residence on the banks of the 

 Oliio river, in Kentucky. He entitles his episode, the "Eccentric Natu- 

 ralist," and mentions Mr. R. under the fictitious name of M. de T — . It 

 may be interesting to make a few extracts. 



" ' What an odd-looking fellow ! ' said I to myself, as, wliile wallong by 

 the river, I observed a man landing from a boat, with what I thought a 

 bimdle of dried clover on his back. 'How the boatmen stare at him! 

 Surely he must be an original.' He ascended with rapid step, and, ap- 

 proacliing me, asked if I could pouat out tlie house in wliich Mx. Audubon 

 resided ? ' Why, I am the man,' said I, ' and will gladly lead you to my 

 dwelhng.' The traveller rubbed his hands together with dehght, and draw- 

 ing a letter from his pocket, handed it to me without any remark. I broke 

 the seal and read as follows : ' My dear Audubon — I send you an odd fish, 

 which you may prove to be imdescribed, and hope you will do so in your 

 next letter. Beheve me always yorn- friend, B.' 



" With all the simphcity of a woodsman, I asked the bearer where the 

 odd fish was ; when M. de T. smiled, rubbed his eyes, and with tlie greatest 

 good humor said, ' I am that odd fish, I presume, Mr. Audubon.' 



" Clean clothes were offered, bij.t he would not accept them, and it was 



