Plans to publish his drawings, to be called The Birds of America, in parts of five plates each, at 2 guineas a part, all to be engraved on copper, to the size of life, and colored after his originals. The number of parts was at first fixed at 80, and the period of publication at 14 years; eventually there were 87 parts, of 435 plates, representing over a thousand individual birds as well as thousands of American trees, shrubs, flowers, insects and other animals of the entire continent; the cost in England was £174, which was raised by the duties to $1,000 in America.
Paints animal pictures to pay his way, and opens a subscription book.
October 26.—Reaches Edinburgh, where his pictures attract the attention of the ablest scientific and literary characters of the day, and he is patronized by the aristocracy.
November, early.—William Home Lizars begins the engraving of his first plates at Edinburgh, and on the 28th, shows him the proof of the Turkey Cock.
Honors come to him rapidly, and he is soon elected to membership in the leading societies of science and the arts in Great Britain, France and the United States.
1827
February 3.—Exhibits the first number of his engraved plates at the Royal Institution of Edinburgh.
March 17.—Issues his "Prospectus," when two numbers of his Birds are ready.
April 5.—Starts for London with numerous letters to distinguished characters and obtains subscriptions on the way.
May 21.—Reaches London, and exhibits his plates before the Linnæan and Royal Societies, which later elect him to fellowship.