Introduction. v 



nothing in his whole character stands out in a purer and more 

 honorable light, than his discharge of all the duties of home. 

 In private life his virtues endeared him to a large circle of 

 devoted admirers ; his sprightly conversation, with a slight 

 French accent ; his soft and gentle voice ; his frank and fine 

 face, " aye gat him friends in ilka place." With those whose 

 privilege it was to know the Naturalist, so full of fine enthusi- 

 asm and intelligence ; with so much simplicity of character, 

 frankness and genius, he will continue to live in their memories, 

 though " with the buried gone ; " while to the artistic, litera- 

 ry, and scientific world, he has left an imperishable name that 

 is not in the keeping of history alone. Long after the bronze 

 statue of the naturalist that we hope soon to see erected in 

 the Central Park, shall have been wasted and worn beyond 

 recognition, by the winds and rains of Heaven ; while the 

 towering and snow-covered peak of the Rocky Mountains 

 known as Mount Audubon, shall rear its lofty head among 

 the clouds ; while the little wren chirps about our homes, and 

 the robin and reed-bird sing in the green meadows ; while the 

 melody of the mocking-bird is heard in the cypress swamps 

 of Louisiana, or the shrill scream of the eagle on the frozen 

 shores of the Northern seas, the name of John James Audu- 

 bon, the gifted Artist, the ardent lover of Nature, and the 

 admirable writer, will live in the hearts of his grateful coun- 

 trymen. 



In the preface to the London edition of this work, I find 

 the following just and generous wcrds : — 



" Audubon was a man of genius, with the courage of a 

 Hon and the simphcity of a child. One scarcely knows which 

 to admire most — the mighty determination which enabled him 

 to carry out his great work in the face of difficulties so huge, 

 or the gentle and guileless sweetness with which he through- 

 out shared his thoughts and aspirations with his wife and 

 children. He was more like a child at the mother's knee, 

 than a husband at the hearth — so free was the prattle, so thor- 

 ough the confidence. Mrs. Audubon appears to have been a 

 wife in every respect worthy of such a man ; wilhng to sacri- 

 fice her personal comfort at any moment for the furtherance 

 of his great schemes ; ever ready with kiss and counsel when 



