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,?? 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. 
