44 INTRODUCTION. 
papers on botanical and zoological subjects were published 
by bini in the journals of the day. In 1818 he visited 
the country west of the Alleghany mountains, and was 
soon after appointed Professor of Natural History in 
Transylvania University, at Lexington, in Kentucky. 
The results of his visit to the West were exhibited in 
several memoirs sent to Europe for publication, and in 
others which appeared in this country. About this time 
the faulty qualities of his character began to increase, 
and gradually overshadowed the more useful ones. 1 He 
1 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 his Ornithological Biography, has given a very amusing account of a 
visit made to Mm by M. Rafinesquc, at his residence on the banks of the 
Ohio 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, while walking by 
the river, I observed a man landing from a boat, with what I thought a 
bundle of dried clover on his back. 'How the boatmen .-tare at him ' 
Surely he must be an original.' He ascended with rapid step, and, ap- 
proaching me, asked if I could point out the house in winch Mr. Audubon 
resided? 'Why, I am the man,' said I, 'and will gladly lead you to my 
dwelling.' The traveller rubbed his hands together with delight, and draw- 
mg a letter from his pocket, handed it to me without any remark. I broke 
the seal aud read as follows : ' My dear Audubon — I send you an odd fish, 
which you may prove to be undescribed, and hope you will do so in your 
next letter. Believe me always your friend, B.' 
•With all the simplicity of a woodsman, I asked the bearer where the 
■Jd fish was ; when M. de T. smiled, rubbed his eyes, and with the greatest 
good humor said, ' I am that odd fish, I presume, Mr. Audubon.' 
" Clean clothes were offered, but he would not accept them, and it was 
