_April._—Occupies his estate, now included in the realty section of upper New York City called Audubon Park, which he deeded to his wife and named for her "Minnie's Land." _September 12._—Starts on a canvassing tour of Canada, going as far north as Quebec, and returns well pleased with his success, after spending a month and traveling 1,500 miles. Plans for his western journey nearly completed. _1843_ _March 11._—At fifty-eight, sets out with four companions for the region of the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, but is unable to attain his long desired goal, the Rocky Mountains. _November._—Returns with many new birds and mammals. _1845-1846_ _The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America_, in collaboration with the Rev. John Bachman, issued to subscribers in 30 parts of five plates each, without letterpress, making two volumes, imperial folio, at $300.00. John W. Audubon, traveling in Texas, to collect materials for his father's work. _1845_ Engrossed with drawings of the _Quadrupeds_, in which he receives efficient aid from his sons. _July 19._—Copper plates of _The Birds of America_ injured by fire in New York. _December 24._—Bachman, his collaborator, issues ultimatum through Harris, but work on the _Quadrupeds_, which had come to a stand, is resumed. _1846-1847_ John W. Audubon in England, painting subjects for the illustration of the _Quadrupeds of North America_. _1846-1854_ _The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America_, in collaboration with John Bachman, published in three volumes, octavo, text only, by J. J. and V. G. Audubon; volume i (1847) only appeared during the naturalist's lifetime. _1847_ Audubon's powers begin to weaken and rapidly fail. _1848_ _February 8._—John W. Audubon joins a California company organized by Colonel James Watson Webb, and starts for the gold fields, but his party meets disaster in the valley of the Rio Grande; he leads a remnant to their destination and returns in the following year. _1851_ _January 27._—Jean Jacques Fougère Audubon dies at "Minnie's Land," before completing his sixty-sixth year. AUDUBON THE NATURALIST _Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice_.... SHAKESPEARE, _Othello_ to his biographers. _Time, whose tooth gnaws away everything else, is powerless against truth._ HUXLEY. _What a curious, interesting book, a biographer, well acquainted with my life, could write; it is still more wonderful and extraordinary than that of my father._ AUDUBON, in letter to his wife, March 12, 1828. AUDUBON THE NATURALIST CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION