Ornithological biography, Vol. 4 (of 5) : $b An account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America

"Ornithological Biography, Vol. 4" by John James Audubon is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work documents the habits and environments of various bird species in the United States, accompanied by descriptions and illustrations related to his earlier work, "Birds of America." The book appears to focus on a detailed exploration of bird anatomy and behavior, as well as the author’s personal experiences and observations in the field. The opening of the book presents an introduction where Audubon reflects on his life and work since the publication of the previous volume. He expresses gratitude for his supportive family, friends, and scientific community while detailing his travels across North America in pursuit of knowledge about birds. The text conveys a sense of adventure, as he recounts his encounters with various species, his interactions with fellow naturalists, and the challenges he faced in documenting avian life. Audubon emphasizes his dedication to enhancing the understanding of ornithology and the significance of thorough field research, setting the stage for the detailed accounts of specific bird species that follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John James Audubon was a French-American self-trained artist, naturalist, and ornithologist. His combined interests in art and ornithology turned into a plan to make a complete pictorial record of all the bird species of North America. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations, which depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book titled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon is also known for identifying 25 new species. He is the eponym of the National Audubon Society, and his name adorns a large number of towns, neighborhoods, and streets across the United States. Dozens of scientific names first published by Audubon are still in use by the scientific community. In recent years his legacy has become controversial for his involvement in slavery and his racist writings as well as allegations of dishonesty.