1893. ] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 41 
can be done, both in the way of drawing and accumulation of know- 
ledge in black and white, and also in augmenting the number of our 
subscribers. I return to Europe, where I must remain several years at 
least, if not until the completion of the engraving of the last plate. I 
am growing old very fast, in three or four years my career as a traveler 
will be ended, and should I be obliged to renew my field labors, it is 
very doubtful if my present constitution of body would allow_the 
attempt; one year now is equal to three in three years hence. I re- 
ceived much assistance from our Government; I have John to accom- 
pany me, I am still able to undergo some fatigue, and as I have said I 
am anxious, very anxious, to do all that can be done ere I return to 
Europe. Now the whole time which I conceive necessary to enable me 
to perform these desiderata cannot exceed 12 or 15 months. What 
pleasure it would be to us all if when I take you by the hand and press 
you to my breast I could also hand you a list of 100 new subscribers in 
America, and all the drawing and manuscripts wanted for the comple- 
tion of our great and wonderful undertaking. 
Professor THoMAS EGLEsTON addressed the meeting as follows : 
Mr. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The idea of erecting a 
monument to Audubon originated in 1885, when I noticed in 
Trinity Cemetery a vault with the name of Audubon, very much 
out of repair, and endeavored to have it put in good order. To 
this there seemed to be some objection and it was not done. In 
the year 1886, when 153d street was to be cut through, thinking 
that some accident might possibly happen to the Audubon 
vault, which was very near to the line of the street, and it was 
to be opened, I proposed to the corporation of Trinity Church 
to remove the vault to a more prominent site, and suggested 
that I would endeavor to have a suitable monument raised to 
Audubon’s memory if this was done. It was agreed to at once, 
and the present site of the monument at the foot of Audubon 
Avenue was selected. It was hoped at first that the funds for 
the monument could be raised by a national subscription, and 
to that end Prof. Martin was asked to bring the matter before 
the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 
which met in August, 1887, which he did. It excited a great 
deal of interest, but nothing was done. In October, 1887, Prof. 
Martin presented the matter to the Academy of Sciences and a 
committee was appointed, consisting of Dr. Egleston, Chairman, 
Dr. Britton and Prof. Martin. This committee met at once and 
appointed Dr. Britton as Secretary and Treasurer. It was de- 
cided to make the subscription as far as possible’a national one, 
and for that purpose letters were sent out to nearly all the 
scientific societies of the United States. Replies were received 
from the Torrey Botanical Club, the Linnean Society of New 
York, the American Ornithological Union, the Agassiz Associa- 
tion, and the Natural Science Association of Staten Island. 
