142 AUDUBON" THE NATURALIST. 



of a free land ; of its churches, its universities, 

 its harbourSj the beauty of the adjacent country, 

 brightened by glimpses of neat and elegant habit- 

 ations — and dwells with loving complacency on 

 the numerous places distinguished by association 

 with the glorious chronicle of his far-famed his- 

 tory. 



Audubon^s next excursion was to explore the 

 British Provinces of New Brunswick. Proceed- 

 ing to Frederickton along St. John^s Kiver, he 

 was delighted with the aspect of its shores, 

 bounded by verdurous hills, here and there pic- 

 turesquely interspersed with sharp rocky banks. 

 They were adorned, moreover, with the " yellow 

 fruitfulness " of autumn, waving luxuriant fields 

 of com, glowing fruits which hung clustering in 

 the orchards, and lustrous tints gilding the forest 

 of carmine and gold. 



On the broad unruffled waters the canoes of 

 the Indian swiftly glided, scaring the timid 

 water-fowl. The sprightly Canada jay sprung 

 from branch to branch ; the kingfisher took to 

 flight, while the fish-hawk and eagle spread their 

 broad wings over the waves. 



Returning eastward, Audubon passed the 

 winter at Boston, again occupied in making 

 drawings of the birds that migrate thither from 

 the colder regions of the north, and in May, 

 1883, set sail for Labrador. Approaching its 



