Audubon's Tales

John James Audubon, during his travels to collect specimens for Birds of America, wrote of his encounters throughout frontier America. These writings provide a unique insight into the early days of this country, its customs, development and the state of a wilderness in transformation. There are stories of hunting trips, vigilante justice, comic episodes with companions, commentaries on natural disasters, American scenery and grand natural features. They also provide insight into Audubon, the man, including a humorous side. These stories were first published in his Ornithological Biography. In 1826, these stories were extracted from Ornithological Biography and published seperately as Delineations of American Scenery and Character. I include several of these episodes below. Click on the title or icon for each story to read it in its entirety.

Please be advised these stories were all written at a time in our history when attitudes about slavery and Native Americans were not as enlightened as in the present day. They are presented in their entirety and without editing. It is left to the reader to decide if they wish to read this material which may be offensive to some.

"The Traveler and the Pole-cat"

"Deer Hunting"

"The Earthquake"

"Niagara"

"The Regulators"

"Scipio and the Bear"

"Colonel Boon"