6 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



The last has been one of the happiest months of my life. 

 I was an enthusiastic admirer of nature from my boyhood, and 

 fond of every branch of Natural History. Ornithology is, as 

 a science, pursued by very few persons — and by none in this 

 city. How gratifying was it, then, to become acquainted with 

 a man, who knew more about birds than any man now living — 

 and who, at the same time, was communicative, intelligent, and 

 amiable, to an extent seldom found associated in the same in- 

 dividual. He has convinced me that I was but a novice in the 

 study ; and besides receiving many lessons from him in Ornithol- 

 ogy, he has taught me how much can be accomplished by a 

 single individual, who will unite enthusiasm with industry. For 

 the short month he remained with my family, we were in- 

 separable. We were engaged in talking about Ornithology — 

 in collecting birds — in seeing them prepared, and in laying 

 plans for the accomplishment of that great work which he has 

 undertaken. Time passed rapidly away, and it seems but as 

 yesterday since we met, and now, alas ! he is already separated 

 from me — and in all human probability we shall never meet 

 again. ... I need not inform you that Mr. Audubon was 

 a general favorite in our city. His gentlemanly deportment, 

 his travels and experience, his information and general tal- 

 ents, caused him to be sought after by all. But your. husband 

 knew that the great objects before him required his unremitted 

 attention, and he was obliged to deny himself to his friends, 

 on many occasions, and devoted to them only his evenings. 



There seems quite a blank, in my house, since he has gone, 

 for we looked on him as one of our family. He taught my 

 sister, Maria, to draw birds ; and she has now such a passion 

 for it, that whilst I am writing, she is drawing a Bittern, put 

 up for her at daylight by Mr. Audubon. 



On December 23 Bachman wrote to Audubon: 

 "Your visit to me gave me new life, induced me to go 

 carefully over my favorite study, and made me and my 

 family happy." His sister-in-law, Miss Maria Martin, 



