Audubon, John James, born in 1780. A celebrated American naturalist of French descent. A pupil of the great painter David. From his childhood, he was devoted to natural history, but it was not until 1830 that the first of the four volumes of his great work, "The Birds of America," appeared. This magnificent collection of plates, which was sold for $1,000 a copy, was quickly followed by explanatory letterpress under the title of "American Ornithological Biography." Audubon also projected a similar work on the "Quadrupeds of America," but much of this work was done by his sons, John and Victor. Died, 1851.

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