Plans to publish his drawings, to be called _The Birds of America_, in parts of five plates each, at 2 guineas a part, all to be engraved on copper, to the size of life, and colored after his originals. The number of parts was at first fixed at 80, and the period of publication at 14 years; eventually there were 87 parts, of 435 plates, representing over a thousand individual birds as well as thousands of American trees, shrubs, flowers, insects and other animals of the entire continent; the cost in England was £174, which was raised by the duties to $1,000 in America. Paints animal pictures to pay his way, and opens a subscription book. _October 26._—Reaches Edinburgh, where his pictures attract the attention of the ablest scientific and literary characters of the day, and he is patronized by the aristocracy. _November, early._—William Home Lizars begins the engraving of his first plates at Edinburgh, and on the 28th, shows him the proof of the Turkey Cock. Honors come to him rapidly, and he is soon elected to membership in the leading societies of science and the arts in Great Britain, France and the United States. _1827_ _February 3._—Exhibits the first number of his engraved plates at the Royal Institution of Edinburgh. _March 17._—Issues his "Prospectus," when two numbers of his _Birds_ are ready. _April 5._—Starts for London with numerous letters to distinguished characters and obtains subscriptions on the way. _May 21._—Reaches London, and exhibits his plates before the Linnæan and Royal Societies, which later elect him to fellowship. Lizars throws up the work after engraving ten plates, and it is transferred to London, where, in the hands of Robert Havell, Junior, it is new born and brought to successful completion eleven years later. _Summer._—Affairs at a crisis; resorts to painting and canvasses the larger cities. _December._—Five parts, or twenty-five plates, of _The Birds of America_ completed. _1828_ _March._—Visits Cambridge and Oxford Universities; though well received, is disappointed at the number of subscribers secured, especially at Oxford. _September 1._—To Paris with William Swainson; remains eight weeks, and obtains 13 subscribers; his work is eulogized by Cuvier before the Academy of Natural Sciences, and he receives the personal subscription, as well as private commissions, from the Duke of Orleans, afterwards known as Louis Philippe. _1829_ _April 1._—Sails from Portsmouth on his first return to America from England, for New York, where he lands on May 1. _Summer._—Drawing birds at Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey. _September._—To Mauch Chunk, and paints for six weeks at a lumberman's cottage in the Great Pine Woods.