CONTENTS xix 



PAGE 



98 



farm —Its history and attractions — Studies of American birds be- 

 gun — Engagement to Lucy Bakewell — Sports and festivities . 



CHAPTER VIII 



Dacosta and the "Mill Grove" Mine 



Advent of a new agent at "Mill Grove"— Dacosta becomes guardian 

 to young Audubon and exploits a neglected lead mine on the farm 

 — Correspondence of Lieutenant Audubon and Dacosta — Quarrel 

 with Dacosta — Audubon's return to France 113 



CHAPTER IX 



Audubon's Last Visit to his Home in France 



Life at Coueron— Friendship of D'Orbigny— Drawings of French birds 

 — D'Orbigny's troubles — Marriage of Rosa Audubon — The du Pui- 

 gaudeaus — Partnership with Ferdinand Rozier — Their Articles of 

 Association — They sail from Nantes, are overhauled by British 

 privateers, but land safely at New York— Settle at "Mill Grove" . 127 



CHAPTER X 



"La Gerbetiere" of Yesterday and Today 



Home of Audubon's youth at Coueron — Its situation on the Loire — 



History of the villa and commune — Changes of a century . . . 136 



CHAPTER XI 



First Ventures in Business at New York, and Sequel to 



the "Mill Grove" Mine 



Audubon and Rozier at "Mill Grove"— Their partnership rules— At- 

 tempts to form a mining company lead to disappointment — Deci- 

 sion to sell their remaining interests in "Mill Grove" to Dacosta— 

 Division of the property and legal entanglements — Audubon as a 

 clerk in New York — Business correspondence and letters to his 

 father — Later history of the lead mine and Dacosta — Audubon 

 continues his drawings in New York and works for Dr. Mitchell's 

 Museum — Forsakes the counting-room for the fields — Personal 

 sketch I 46 



