34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Nov. 5 
He came to New York in 1833. He settled in this vicinity 
in 1841. He was proud of his citizenship of the United States, 
and also of this city, which he honored while making his own 
name famous. 
This monument is in sight of his old homestead, at what will 
be the foot of Audubon avenue when the two blocks between it 
and its present terminus are cut through. It will be in the sight 
of every one who walks or rides in this beautiful part of the 
city, and must recall to all who see it how great and con- 
scientious endeavor may influence the lives of people not only 
of their own but of future generations. Few military heroes 
who have fought to redress great wrongs more truly deserve 
such a memorial. 
Audubon was first the rich dilettante, then the unsuccessful 
merchant, then the dancing master, the portrait painter, the 
curator of a museum, and in all these occupations, which he 
dignified, he never forgot his love of birds. So great was his 
love for all animated nature that he relates of himself that in one 
of his journeys with merchndise, while watching the motions of a 
warbler he lost sight of his pack-horses, which carried the most 
of his valuables and his money. 
Audubon was a great artist. Cuvier said of his work that “it 
was the most, magnificent monument that art had ever made to 
ornithology.” He was so thoroughly in sympathy with all 
living things that he not only saw their beauties, but detected 
peculiar ities which others failed to see. America is indebted to 
him for his accurate observations and for the encouragement 
and elevation of the study of natural history, as much as the 
English people are to White of Selbourne. 
What are some of the benefits which the patient and careful 
labors of this man for science have rendered to the world? 
They are many in number, and among them is the habit of care- 
ful and accurate observation of the habits of birds and animals. 
It does not at first sight seem quite clear how such a study 
be considered as a benefit to mankind, but the habit of careful 
and accurate observation and study in one branch naturally 
leads to the habit of mind which inv oluntarily applies the same 
principle to any and every other walk in life. It is impossible 
to exercise the great care and attention required to distinguish 
the various parts of the anatomical and plumage structure of 
birds, their habits of life, the choice of their food, the methods 
of rearing their young, their calls in danger or in pleasure, the 
differences in the structure of their feathers and wings to adapt 
them to the various conditions of life by which they ¢ gain their 
food or rear their young, without acquiring at the same time 
