October 1, 1898.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



2:U 



Notices of Boolts. 



AtKlubon ami His Journals. By Maria K. Audubon. 

 With Zoological and other Notes by Elliott Coues. 2 Vols. 

 (Nimmo.) Illustrated. Altbough nearly fifty years have 

 passed since the death of Audubon, this is the first published 

 account of his life, with the exception of that edited 

 by Robert Buchanan, which was both inaccurate and 

 incomplete. Audubon will be chiefly known by his great 

 folio work on the " Birds of America," the publication of 

 which was commenced in 1827. The authors drawings 

 (in the original edition the text to the plates appeared 

 separately as the " Ornithological Biography ") in this 

 magnificent work formed its chief feature, and, as has 

 been remarked, " it is one of the few illustrated books, if 

 not the only one, that steadily increases in price as the 

 years go on." With the many advances that have been 

 made of late years in the drawing of birds, as well, of course, 

 in the process of reproducing drawings, this is very high 

 testimony for the accuracy and beauty of Audubon's plates. 



ArDUBOy. 



F, Hie P,..t,;iil l,i( H.„,-,i l,imn„. Xow ui th,- p.>ss,ss...» ff the I'lmil,,. 



When we look into his methods, as revealed in his own jour- 

 nals here published, we can better understand why Audu- 

 bon's drawings have stood the test of time and criticism. His 

 work was always first hand. Days and nights were spent 

 in the wilds of America, alone, in the company of savages, 

 or with a few fellow spirits watching, hunting, and procuring 

 wild creatures, and especially birds. When he ultimately 

 knew the habits and attitudes of a creature he would pro- 

 cure it, and as soon as possible, by means of wires, set it up 

 in the flesh, and draw it, adding a few leaves or flowers 

 which would be found growing in its habitat. It was thus 

 that Audubon made his drawings, the like of which 

 the world had never before seen, and it is exceedingly 

 interesting to find in this book the history of many of these 

 drawings written by himself. But this is not the only 

 interest we have in reading these simple pages. They 



reveal the nature of the man — open-hearted, generous, 

 forbearing, good natured, and hard working as he un- 

 doubtedly was. Although often depressed and in very poor 

 circumstances himself, he was always ready to assist the 

 needy and comfort the distressed. Every great character 

 has his enemies, and Audubon was no exception, yet 

 he never had a bitter word for them. It is surprising 

 that he lived to such a great age, considering the 

 amount of hard and rough work that he underwent. 

 He would often work seventeen hours a day. Above 

 everything, Audubon was a man of the open air. 

 In the words of his grand-daughter (Vol. I., p. 48) : 

 " With them (the Osage Indians) he delighted to track 

 the birds and quadrupeds as only an Indian, or one of like 

 gifts, can ; from them he learned much woodcraft ; with 

 them he strengthened his already iron constitution ; and in 

 fearlessness, endurance, patience, and marvellously keen 

 vision, no Indian surpassed him." He was called the "Amer- 

 ican Back- woodsman," and was an ideal field naturalist. 



The first of these volumes contains an account of the 

 life of Audubon by the authoress, the European journals, 

 the Labrador journal, and part of the Missouri River 

 journals ; while in the second we have the completion of 

 these journals, and a number of Episodes. The " life " is 

 an excellent and unvarnished biography. The European 

 journals deal with Audubon's visit to Great Britain and 

 France for the purpose of publishing his " Birds of 

 America." This was by no means an easy task. The 

 expense involved in the reproduction of the drawings was 

 enormous, and the price of the book therefore very high. 

 There were no means in those d-iys such as we have 

 now to get a book subscribed, and Audubon had to travel 

 by coach all over England to obtain sub^cribsrs for his 

 work. Besides the account of the immense labour he went 

 through in connection with the publishing of his great 

 work, the European journals are of intense interest for the 

 descriptions they contain of the meetings and conversa- 

 tions he had with many notable men of the period. 



The Labrador and Missouri journals will be chiefly 

 valuable to naturalists, and especially, of course, to Ameri- 

 cans, but there is so much of general interest in them that 

 everyone who takes up the volumes will find them excellent 

 reading. The Episodes are varied, all are interesting, and 

 many very amusing. That entitled "The Eccentric 

 Naturalist ' is a most clever sketch, and we cannot refrain 

 from extracting a few lines — 



" Wo had all retired to rest. ETerv person I imagined was in 

 deep slumber save myself, when of a sudden I lieard a great uproar 

 in the naturalist's room. I got up, reached the place in a few moments, 

 and opened the door, when, to mv astonishment. I saw my guest 

 running about the room naked, holding the handle of my favourite 

 violin, the body of which he had battered to pieces against the walls 

 in attempting to kill the bats which had entered by the open window, 

 probably attracted by the insects flying around his candle. I stood 

 amazed, but he continued jumping aud running round and round 

 until he was fairly exhausted, when he begged me to procure one of 

 the animals for him, as he felt convinced they belonged to 'a new 

 species.' " 



The author goes on to say how he knocked down some 

 of the bats with the bow of his "demolished Cremona," 

 and so satisfied the naturalist. He does not, however, 

 tell us how he must have mourned for the loss of his 

 violin, on which instrument he was an accomplished 

 performer. 



The volumes are enriched by many valuable notes by 

 Dr. Elliott Coues. By way of illustrations there are many 

 portraits of Audubon and his sons, as well as three hitherto 

 uupubUshed drawings of birds. The authoress has pro- 

 duced an estimable and lasting memorial to her grandfather 

 Audubon, naturalist, woodsman, artist, and author. 



