78 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



As has already been stated, Audubon had always been interested 

 in drawing birds. His early efforts represented the birds suspended 

 as dead game, but later he depicted them in life-like attitudes. 

 Ever since coming west he had been drawing every variety of 

 bird that he came across and had accumulated quite a collection. 

 Just when he conceived the idea of publishing these drawings it 

 f is hard to say; he himself states that it was not until he met Charles 

 s , Bonaparte^ in^Philadelphia in 1824, but there is reason to think 

 that he had the publication in mind before this time. However 

 this maybehe made this trip to New Orleans primarily with the 

 idea of adding to his collection the many new varieties of birds 

 that he felt sure must exist in the swamps and cane-brakes of the 

 south and in the state which was ever dear to him as his birthplace. 



Reaching New Orleans in the winter of 1820-21 he spent a 

 whole year in rambling about the country and drawing the birds 

 that he procured, while he supported himself by drawing portraits. 

 The next year he was joined by his family and gave lessons in 

 drawing while he and his wife filled positions as tutors both at 

 New Orleans and Natchez. In this period, too, Audubon made 

 his first attempt at painting in oils, being instructed by a traveling 

 portrait painter, one John Stein. 



In January, 1823, the family were forced to separate for a time, 

 Mrs. Audubon going with her younger son John to live on the 

 plantation of a Mrs. Percy at Bayou Sara where she was to act 

 as governess to her small daughter. Audubon and his son Victor 

 traveled about the country for a time with the artist Stein, support- 

 ing themselves by painting portraits, but at the approach of winter 

 established themselves at Shipping Port, Ky., where Victor entered 

 the counting-house of his uncle Mr. Berthond. 



March. i82d_mEjks a critical point in Auduboii!s-lif. In this 

 month he made a journey to Philadelphia taking with him his 

 drawings of birds and there for the first time introduced them to 

 the scientific world, and seriously discussed the possibility and 

 best method of securing their publication. He could hardly have 

 come to a less sympathetic community. Philadelphia had been 

 Wilson's home and his memory was still fresh in the minds of the 



