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392 



AUDUBON 



color. Dr. Kelly from the " Gulnare " went with me. 

 Captain Bayfield and Lieutenant Bowen went off this 

 morning on a three weeks' expedition in open boats, but 

 with tents and more comforts than I have ever enjoyed in 

 hunting excursions. The mosquitoes quite as numerous 

 as in Louisiana. 



July 8. Rainy, dirty weather, wind east. Was at work 

 at half-past three, but disagreeable indeed is my situation 

 during bad weather. The rain falls on my drawing-paper, 

 despite all I can do, and even the fog collects and falls in 

 large drops from the rigging on my table ; now and then 

 I am obliged to close my skylight, and then may be said 

 to work almost in darkness. Notwithstanding, I finished 

 my cock Ptarmigan, and three more young, and now con- 

 sider it a handsome large plate. John and party returned, 

 cold, wet, and hungry. Shot nothing, camp disagreeable, 

 and nothing to relate but that they heard a Wolf, and found 

 an island with thousands of the Mormon arcticus breeding 

 on it. To-morrow I shall draw the beautiful Colymbus 

 glacialis in most perfect plumage. 



July 9. The wind east, of course disagreeable; wet and 

 foggy besides. The most wonderful climate in the world. 

 Cold as it is, mosquitoes in profusion, plants blooming by 

 millions, and at every step you tread on such as would 

 be looked upon with pleasure in more temperate climes. 

 I wish I were a better botanist, that I might describe them 

 as I do birds. Dr. Wm. Kelly has given me the list of 

 such plants as he has observed on the coast as far as 

 Macatine Island. I have drawn all day at the Loon, a 

 most difficult bird to imitate. For my part, I cannot help 

 smiling at the presumption of some of our authors, who 

 modestly assert that their figures are " up to nature." 

 May God forgive them, and teach me to copy His works; 

 glad and happy shall I then be. Lincoln and Shattuck 

 brought some fresh-water shells from a large pond inland; 

 they saw a large bird which they took for an Owl, but 



