THE OOLOGIST. 



281 



Notes From Audubon's Biography. 

 Paet IV. 



Soon after the arrival of Audubon's 

 party in Boston Audubon's son, Victor 

 Gifford Audubon, sailed for England to 

 superintend the publication of the 

 "Birds of America;" while Audubon re- 

 sumed his researches. At Boston Au- 

 dubon was attacked by a severe illness, 

 but, "thanks to Providence and his 

 medical friends Parkman, Shattuck'and 

 Wan-en," h e was soon enabled to pro- 

 ceed with his labors. A sedentary life 

 being the cause of his sickness, Audu- 

 bon resolved to set out once more with 

 his note-book and gun; and desiring to 

 explore the bleak wilds of Labrador, he 

 returned eastward with his youngest 

 son, John Woodhouse Audubon, and 

 soon after was joined by four young 

 gentlemen, all fond of Natural History, 

 among whom was Thomas Lincoln, the 

 son of Audubon's old friend, Judge 

 Lincoln of Dennisville. 



At Eastport, Maine, Audubon and 

 his little exploring party chartered a 

 beautiful little vessel, the "Ripley," un- 

 der the command of Mr. Henry W. 

 Emmery. On the day appointed for 

 the departure of the party the wharf 

 was crowded with their friends and ac- 

 quaintances who had come to see them 

 off; and they were most of them agree- 

 ably surprised when as the stars and 

 stripes shot to the masthead, a salute 

 was fired from the guns of the fort 

 which towered over the bay on which 

 the beautiful "Ripley" lay at anchor. 

 As they passed the Revenue Cutter at 

 anchor her brave captain paid them 

 a similar honor, after which he came 

 on board the "Ripley" and piloted the 

 party through a very difficult outlet. 



The next day, favored by a good 

 breeze, they proceeded at a rapid rate, 

 and passing through the Gut of Canso, 

 launched into the broad waters of the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence, and made sail 



for the Magdelen Islands. There sev- 

 eral days were profitably spent, and 

 proceeding thence they came in sight 

 of the famous "Gannet Rock," where 

 countless numbers of Solan Geese were 

 nesting. A gale coming up, they reef- 

 ed their sails and headed for the coast 

 of Labrador, which was sighted next 

 morning, and the "Ripley" was at 

 length safely anchored in American 

 Harbor. After a summer very pleas- 

 antly spent in Labrador, they embark- 

 ed again in the "Ripley" and stopped 

 long enough at Newfoundland to ex- 

 plore a portion of its woods and rivers. 

 Landing at Pictou, Nova Scotia, they 

 left the "Ripley" and proceeded to 

 Eastport, Maine, with their collection 

 of specimens. While in Pictou they 

 called on Professor McCulloch, by 

 whom they were received in a most 

 cordial manner, and were shown his 

 superb collection of Northern birds; 

 and Audubon was presented with rare 

 skins, eggs and nests. At St. Johns, 

 New Brunswick, Audubon had the 

 pleasure of meeting his old friend, Ed- 

 ward Harris of New York. Letters 

 from his son in England were handed 

 him by Mr. Harris, which compelled 

 Audubon to abandon his contemplated 

 trip through the woods of Quebec; and 

 he immediately proceeded to Boston, 

 where his wife was, and with her and 

 his youngest son hurried on to New 

 York, where Audubon added a number 

 of subscribers to his list. It was neces- 

 sary for Audubon to spend the winter 

 in the south, and he therefore deter- 

 mined to set out immediately. He ar- 

 rived in Charleston in October, 1883. 

 Circumstances rendered impossible his 

 projected trip along the Gulf of Mexico 

 and the Floridas, and for that reason, 

 after spending the winter in Charleston 

 with Dr. Bachman, he returned to New 

 York in March. Taking leave of his 

 friends iu New York he embarked on 

 the packet-ship, the "North America," 



