PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
XXV 
whose country residence was in New York State, not far from New 
York City. It was only after reaching the house that I learned we 
had chosen a very trying time for the family, because, on the follow¬ 
ing morning, Mr. Audubon was to take his departure for the Rocky 
Mountains, on his last excursion in pursuit of his favourite study. 
He must then have reached his 70th year. It was a bold and 
perilous adventure, such as might well have tried the courage of 
young men capable of enduring the greatest hardships. In those 
days the region known as the Rocky Mountains was regarded as one 
of the wildest on the North American Continent. It was settled 
chiefly by a savage and half-civilized people, consisting of Indians, 
half-breeds, and whites who had degenerated into half-savages. But 
such was Audubon’s restless nature and love of adventure, even at 
that advanced age, that no influence that could be brought to bear 
upon him was found strong enough to dissuade him from his purpose. 
And yet, with all his boldness and daring, he was one of the gentlest 
of men. As a husband, a father, and a friend he had a heart over¬ 
flowing with kindness. Indeed his character was written on his 
countenance, on which might be read kindness, courage, and genius. 
He had a sharp eye, regular and finely-formed features, and a noble 
and expansive forehead, from which his silvery locks flowed back in 
graceful folds. If I were to picture to myself the ideal of a patriarch 
I would choose Audubon as my type. His conversation was both 
interesting and instructive. There was an emphasis and meaning in 
every word he uttered. He had a strong French accent—so strong, 
indeed, that one would have imagined he had newly left the country 
in which he had spent his early years,—because, although he was 
born in Louisiana, his parents soon afterwards settled in France. 
But his French accent, so far from being a drawback, gave an 
additional charm to his conversation. 
“ I have said that I arrived on the day previous to his departure 
on his last expedition, but my friend and I were treated by the family 
with as much consideration as if there was nothing of an unusual 
kind to occupy their thoughts. Even when we all met at breakfast 
on the morning of the departure the conversation was cheerful and 
pleasant all round. 
“The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Audubon, their two sons 
(Victor Gifford Audubon and John Woodhouse Audubon), and 
their wives and children. In this happy family it would be difficult 
to find a more perfect example of everything that can render home 
beautiful and attractive. One soul seemed to animate every member, 
from the oldest to the youngest. Mrs. Audubon was some years 
younger than her husband, but age did not seem to have told upon 
her. She must have been beautiful when young, and she still re¬ 
tained a pleasing and beautiful expression of countenance. She was 
natural and simple in her manners, and, indeed, a fine example of a 
well-bred, sensible English lady,—for she was the daughter of an 
English gentleman. Their two sons were fine-looking men, highly 
cultured, and kindly and genial in their manners. They were both 
married to elegant and accomplished ladies, and the three genera¬ 
tions—namely, Mr. and Mrs. Audubon, their two sons, and their 
