14 Life of Auduhon, 



The naturalist was born on his father's plantation, 

 near New Orleans, Louisiana, May 4th, 1780, and 

 his earliest recollections are associated with lying 

 among the flowers of that fertile land, sheltered by the 

 orange trees, and watching the movements of the 

 mocking-bird, " the king of song," dear to him in after 

 life from many associations. He has remarked that his 

 earliest impressions of nature were exceedingly vivid ; the 

 beauties of natural scenery stirred " a frenzy " in his 

 blood, and at the earliest age the bent of his future studies 

 was indicated by many characteristic traits. He left 

 Louisiana while but a child, and went to St. Domingo, 

 where he resided for a short period, previous to his 

 departure for France, where his education was to be 

 commenced. 



His earliest recollections of his life in France extend 

 to his home in the central district of the city of Nantes, 

 and a fact he remembered well was being attended by two 

 colored servants sent home from India by his father. 

 He speaks of his life in Nantes as joyous in the extreme. 

 His step-mother, being without any children of her own, 

 humored the child in every whim, and indulged him in 

 every luxury. The future naturalist, who in the recesses 

 of American forests was to live on roots and fruits, and 

 even scantier fare, was indulged with a " carte blanche " 

 on all the confectionery shops in the village where his 

 summer months were passed, and he speaks of the kind- 

 ness of his stepmother as overwhelming. His father 

 had less weakness, and ordered the boy to attend to his 

 education. The elder Audubon had known too many 

 changes of fortune to believe in the fickle goddess ; and 

 notwithstanding his wife's tears and entreaties, determining 

 to educate his son thoroughly, as the safest inheritance 

 he could leave him, he sent the young gentleman 

 straightway to school. Audubon laments that education 



