iSS6.] Shufeldt 071 ail Old Portrait of Audubon. 4^9 



Audubon eventually came to possess in figuring his birds in their 

 every attitude. 



There is a peculiar pleasure that takes possession of us as we 

 turn to the third and last of these figures, the one representing 

 the Green Woodpecker (^Gecinus viridis). It is a wonderful 

 improvement, in every particular, upon both of the others. The 

 details of the plumage and other structures are brought out with 

 great delicacy, and refinement of touch ; while the attitude of the 

 bird, an old male, is even better than many of those published in 

 his famous work. The colors are soft and have been so handled, 

 as to lend to the plumage a very flossy and natural appearance, 

 while the old trunk, upon the side of which the bird is repre- 

 sented, presents several evidences of an increase of the power to 

 paint such objects. We find written in lead pencil beneath this 

 figure, in two lines, and in rather a Frenchy hand, "Le Pic vert, 

 Buftbn," "the Green Woodpecker — British Zoology." 



When Mrs. Walker presented me with these drawings, I re- 

 ceived a very valued letter from her with them, and in it she tells 

 me that "there was a portfolio of quite a number and variety of 

 bii'ds left with my father by Mrs. Audubon, but they have been 

 given to different members of our family. He left a half-finished 

 portrait of his wife and two sons, a portrait of himself in oil 

 colors, taken by himself with the aid of a mirror and a life size 

 American Eagle ; were they now in my possession I would most 

 willingly send them for your inspection." 



"Mrs. Audubon was governess in my father's family for several 

 years, also in that of a neighbor's of ours. I presume you are 

 aware she supported herself and sons by teaching during the years 

 of Mr. Audubon's wanderings through America in pursuit of his 

 collections. I was but a child at the time. He was with us 

 eight months [in Louisiana], but during the greater part of the 

 time was wandering all over the State, walking the almost entire 

 time ; — no insect, worm, reptile, bird, or animal escaped his 

 notice. He would make a collection, return home and draw his 

 crayon sketches, when his son John would stuff the birds and 

 such animals as he wished to preserve. I regret greatly, Doctor, 

 that I cannot gratify you in giving a more minute account of Mr. 

 Audubon's life while with us. But I was too young at the time, 

 and as all of the older members of my family have passed away, 

 I cannot collect such items as I might have done some years 

 since. The two [three] crayons I beg you will accept." 



