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rious sun arose, gladdening the earth with its rays, starting to his feet, invigorated by healthful repose, the naturalist was urged to the pursuits of the day, by the delighting prospect of the successful termination of his toils. Fancy would then load the breeze with the praises of admirers. Or with the sweet serenity of evening, the flower-perfumed air, and the declining melodies of forest warblers, thoughts of home and friends would arise, awakening the dear anticipation of joyful meeting.

Incited ever onwards by pleasing images and hopes such as these, Audubon found himself, he tells us, "fur

“furnished as it were with large and powerful wings, when, cleaving the air like an eagle, he would fly off, and by a few joyous bounds overtake the object of his desire.”

With no partial achievement could his ambition be content, for the ideal of true genius through the slightest detraction is destroyed. “How often,” he exclaims, “I long to see the day on which my labours should be brought to an end”—when hope should be converted into assurance, that devotion to nature so enthusiastic, so untiring, had not been in vain. Thus incited and sustained, the wanderer toiled on, till at length in the completion of his great work, he beheld his rich and abundant reward. This was in the sixty-third year of his age. Once more

he was in the charmed circle of his home, ever so lovingly remembered, though so little enjoyed. Exulting in the satisfaction of his dearest earthly wishes, he looked up “ with gratitude to the Supreme Being, and felt that he was happy." The devoted student of nature, he remained to the close of his career enjoying the pleasures of those pursuits from which he had derived his best delights. Audubon lived to the age of seventy-six.

On the 27th of January, 1851, the “darkness of death spread for him a sable curtain" over the scene of this life, from which the great Naturalist of America for ever departed.

The traveller was at rest.

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CHAPTER XVI.

NOTE AND ADDENDA BY THE AMERICAN PUBLISHERS.

W

E have taken the liberty of transposing

some portions of the foregoing pages from the London edition, having ascertained that chronological mistakes had been made by the fair authoress in preparing her interesting sketch of Audubon, and we would further say, that as she appears not to have been aware of the publication of his second great work, the “Quadrupeds of North America," (which has not been advertised, we believe, in Europe,) it has been deemed by us essential to mention it, and to subjoin the following particulars :

When Audubon had finished his great edition of the "Birds of America," and had also published a synopsis of the species inhabiting our country, (which was issued in Edinburgh, in 1839,) leaving the hospitable shores of Britain, and parting with many highly valued friends, he embarked for his native land, and after a tedious, although not otherwise unpleasant voy

age, arrived at New York in the month of September of that year.

Desiring to reproduce his work on the Birds in a small form, so as to place it within the reach of nearly all who might wish to possess it, an octavo edition was soon begun, and this undertaking proved entirely successful, being aided by the subscriptions of men of science and professional reputation, and by the patronage of the wealthy and liberal merchants and gentlemen of our principal cities and towns, in which Audubon was most cordially welcomed.

Soon after this edition of the “Birds" had been commenced, the publication of the “Quadrupeds of North America” was projected, with the advice and aid of the Reverend Dr. Bachman, of Charleston, South Carolina, well known for his zoological researches and discoveries, and who had for some time been connected by the marriage of two of his daughters to Audubon's two sons, with ties even stronger than those which always bind congenial and noble spirits together.

Audubon had, during his journeyings, and whilst in the wilderness, made many notes of the habits of our quadrupeds, as well as some drawings of them, and was very soon interested in this new labour in the cause of natural history, notwithstanding his advanced age and the

TRIP TO THE YELLOW STONE.

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difficulties that stood in the way: with his experience, and with his usual energy to help him, bending his mind to the task he had thus taken up, he at once began to arrange his plans, and having decided to bring out the work in a size sufficient to give figures of all the animals not larger than the raccoon, of their natural dimensions; he soon was deeply engaged in preparing it.

He was aided in this arduous task, not only by Dr. Bachman, but by his sons, V. G. and J. W. Audubon, the former painting the backgrounds, drawings of trees, plants, etc., and editing the manuscript for the press, and the latter procuring and drawing some of the animals in Texas, California and elsewhere.

Audubon was also assisted by hosts of friends, many of whom are named in the introduction to the work, including Sir George Simpson, of the Hudson's Bay Company, the Chouteaus, of the American Fur Company, etc., etc. This work involved the necessity of further journey. ings, and among the rest, a trip to the Yellow Stone river and the spurs of the Rocky Mountains, which expedition was made in 1843, and was productive, besides its results in respect to the history of the quadrupeds, of further discoveries in ornithology, some twenty new species of birds having been added by it to the