Bird Watching

Although Dartmouth's libraries overflow with precious books and collections, only three books Have the distinction of being displayed within a specially designed case, prominently featured at the entrance of: he Rauner Special Collections Library. The master work of John James Audubon, The Birds of America, a four-volume set, was originally sold by subscription in the late 1820s. Displayed are the volumes from the subscription of Daniel Webster, class of 1801, donated to the College in memory of Andrew Brisbin Foster '25 byway of the Haverhill Public Library in Massachusetts. !

Wky onjy three volumes? Some historians think Audubon send Webster a fourth volume after having difficulty procuring pay ment for the first three. This is believed to have severed a once amicable and reverential friendship between the two.

The books—called elephant folios because of their large size (29 by ,39 1/2 inches)- display life-size color prints of all bird species known in North America at the time they were published. Rauner Reading: Room supervisor Sarah Hartwell changes the displayed page every other Monday "Sometimes, if there are folks in the library who are really into Audubon, I'll turn it when they are here. Some people find it thrilling," she says. Others have found Complete; sets pretty exciting too. A four-voluis| set sold in 2000 for almost $9 million—one of the highest prices ever paid for books at auction.

Winged Wonders (Counter Clockwise from Right): Snowy Owl, Yellow Red-poll Warbler, American Sparrow Hawkand Hudsonian Curlew