Klem — The History of Science in St. Louis. 103 



of the Colorado and across the Wahsatch Mountains into 

 California. 



In the spring of 1843 John James Audubon, 22 the 

 ornithologist, spent several weeks in St. Louis, preparing 

 for a trip up the Missouri in the steamboat of the Ameri- 

 can Fur Company. While here he was entertained by 

 the members of the Western Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, being elected an honorary member of that or- 

 ganization April 17, 1843. 



In 1846 Wislizenus again left St. Louis, this time with 

 the intention of making a tour through northern Mexico 

 and Upper California. His principal object was to study 

 the topography and natural history of that country. He 

 made a large collection of rare and theretofore unknown 

 plants, examined the geological formation of the rocks, 

 visited many mines, and analyzed some of the ores. He 

 made barometrical observations to ascertain the eleva- 

 tion above the sea level, compiled meteorological tables, 

 and gathered data relating to the number, industry, man- 

 ners, customs, and previous history of the inhabitants 

 of the country through which he passed. 



Shortly after he had started on this expedition, which 

 he had outfitted from his private means, the war with 

 Mexico broke out, and interfered with his plans. He was 

 detained many months as he states "in a very passive 

 situation" by the Governor of the State of Chihuahua. 

 After the arrival of American troops he joined the medi- 

 cal department of the Army and returned to the United 

 States by way of Monterey. 



Although the results of his researches must have been 

 very unsatisfactory to him, Wislizenus had the satisfac- 

 tion of having been one of the first scientific pioneers 



22 St. John, H. R. Audubon. 1856. 

 Pierce, B. K. Audubon's adventures. 1890. 



Youmans, W. J. John James Audubon. Pioneers of Science in 

 America. 152-166. 1896. 



Audubon, M. R. Audubon and his journals. 1897. 

 Burroughs, John. John James Audubon. 1902. 



