Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-05-15
EXPEDITIONS.

When he returned to his native land it was only to
renew with more burning ardor his labors in the
woods His first expedition was to the coast OF tlorlda
where amid hocks of snowy pelicans and cormorants
tortoise and fying-ish he laid up vast treasures vi
knowledge fer his forthcoming volumes. Having
examined every part Of the coast and of the different
keys, passing to the Tortugas Islands, he re-
turned 10 Charleston, S. c., anxious to bend his
TO the northeast, that he might keep pace with
the birds during their migration. Sickness detained
him for the greater part of the summer at Boston, but
having recovered about the middle of August, he left
his Boston friends his way eastwards, he explored
the whole of the State of Maine, the British province
of New Brunswick, portion of the Canadas, and
then, when there were no more prizes In those dis
rctS to carry away turned his footsteps to the dreary
shores of icebound Labrador. His researches into
the habits of birds, beasts, and men of this hyper
borean region successful and he returned rich
with materials, to the abode of his family and friends.
OF the industry with which he pushed his inquiries,
and of the startling and touching adventures to which
his various excursions gave rise, his volumes full
of entertaining and instructive proof. Our plan does
not allow us, should wish, to introduce them.
Let us add however, that this pathological Biogra-
ply has expanded into five large books; that his
Birds of America finished in glorious style,
and bis magnificent " Illustrations, being those
birds drawn TO the size of life, have for time
been the establishment and delight of the cultivated
world.
One hundred and seventy-fve subscribers to his
great work. at thousand dollars (eighty of these
we are glad 10 say were his countrymen) remuner-
ated him for the expense he had incurred in its pub
LEGATION.
In the year 1912, Mr.. Audubon began collection
of the quadrupeds of America, similar to his magn-
ficent work the birds. He had already, at the
time, materials enough to make five large volumes,
and it was the impression of those who his orig
inal drawings that the work, when completed would
make still grander monument to his memory than
any that he had yet executed. The animals, if we
remember rightly, were drawn of the size of life,
with all the accuracy of outline that grace and vgor
of action, and fidelity of form and color which char
acterized his pencil To see of his plates, was
to the animal itself, he appeared in his native
haunts, without so much as spot or hair omitted.
Mr.. Audubol was an old man at this time, (sixty-
six, nearly, yet he completed his prospective jour
ney to the Rocky Mountains with as much apparent
ardor and delight, as a schoolboy looks forward to
the rambes of a vacation. II was journey that is
volved thousand upon thousand of miles of travel
through an unbroken wilderness, but remember
than when we limited to him word or two about the
probable hardships of such undertaking, he replied
in his broken English with peculiar smile upon his
face, and his eyes flashing with sudden fire. ''Hard-
ships!-why it's sport, man-sport; it is they who
are perpetually stewed within these brick walls,
without freedom health or happiness, who have the
hardships of life" But we believe that some unfor-
seen circumstance prevented Mr.. Audubon from full
filling his intention, at any rate, to the extent which
was originally in his mind.