THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



of the same, while a goodly space was 

 devoted to nests and eggs — all these 

 the fruits of his many rambles, trans- 

 formed his room into a pleasing picture 

 of the out door world. Thus we may 

 see how the young scientist loved to 

 surround himself with the beauties of 

 nature. 



But Audubon soon grew restless. 

 The farm, to be sure, was a large field 

 for study, yet it soon became too small. 

 Our naturalist must make longer jour- 

 neys into the wilds to seek the homes 

 of other birds ; must penetrate forests, 

 bayous, morasses and all places which 

 sheltered bird-life. So, soon after, ac- 

 companied by his wife, he forsook the 

 farm and started for Louisville. On 

 reaching this place a flat boat was en- 

 gaged with which he floated down the 

 Ohio, sanguine as to the siiccess of his 

 plans. Every opportunity of obesrving 

 or sketching birds was improved and 

 now, more than ever before, the forest 

 with its many labyrinths became his 

 studio. Accurate life size sketches 

 were made of the many beautiful birds 

 that flocked to the river and its banks. 

 His keen, Indian-like sight and hear- 

 ing enabled him to discover life where 

 other men would have passed by. 



On reaching the " Father of Waters" 

 his port folio was well packed with 

 pictures and the trip down the Missis- 

 sippi added still more to his collection. 

 New Oi'leans, the destination was reach- 

 ed after a voyage of many days and the 

 "Birds of North America" was well 

 under way. This great work he had 

 begun only after much deliberation, for 

 it was doubtful how the world would 



receive such a comprehensive book that 

 would only be in the reach of the rich. 

 The next and perhaps greatest expedi- 

 tion in connection with this stupendous 

 work was to Labrador and lands north 

 of this country, to collect specimens 

 and to find out how the hyperborean 

 birds spent their time. At last the 

 time had come when the book, the 

 great work of Audubon's life, was to be 

 published and as England offered bet- 

 ter facilities for the production af such 

 a work than this country did at that 

 time, the author ascordingly sailed for 

 Europe. 



And now let us examine the proposed 

 book. What do we find? We recog- 

 nize our own birds admirably executed 

 in colors, while the whole is so natural 

 that we expect each moment to hear a 

 favoi'ite singer burst forth into melody. 

 The eventful time that Audubon had in 

 getting his book published is perhaps, 

 familiar to most of my readers. You 

 know Audubon was not a rich man; so 

 it was necessary for him to paint pic- 

 tures for private parties, the income 

 from which barely supporting himself 

 and family and paying the publishers. 

 With such a meager income, it seemed 

 at times, that the great object of his 

 life would never be accomplished. Yet 

 he was not discouraged, but bravely 

 overcame all obstacles, until at last on 

 a happy day the prospectus was issued, 

 for it was a happy day to America's 

 naturalist who had watched the prog- 

 ress of his book as a child watches the 

 growing of a plant. As has been men- 

 tioned before, each bird is represented 

 in its own natural position, colors and 



