AUDUBON'S GREATEST TRIUMPH 173 



upon myself the risk of publishing his names to the Birds on 

 my plate, but which of course I am obliged to correct in my 

 letter press. The little beautiful owl, I would venture to say 

 has been described by Vigors at least ten years ago, &c. &c. 

 Swainson never goes to bed without describing some new species, 

 and Charles Bonaparte, during his late visit to London, has 

 published as many as 20 of a night at the Museum of the Zoo- 

 logical Society Insects &c. &c. Stir, work hard, [be] prompt 

 in every thing. My work must soon be finished, and unless 

 all is received here by the month of May next, why I shall have 

 to abandon to others what I might myself have accomplished. 

 God bless you, many happy years. We are all well, thank 

 God, just now. Remember me and us kindly to all around and 

 every friend and believe me ever your most truly and sincerely 

 attached friend, 



John J. Audubon. 



To Edward Harris, Esq re . 



Addressed, care "Messrs. Rathbone, Brothers & Co. 

 When you send to Liverpool. Liverpool." 



If Townsend has brought Birds Eggs, ask him to send them 

 me. I will return all to him that he may want. I greatly 

 regret that you did not find me the water Birds of which you 

 speak, as I might have perchance found something new or 

 curious among them. The Golden Eye Duck especially, if any 

 be had ? 



In reference to the new species of birds which had 

 come into his hands, Audubon said : 



What was I to do? Why, to publish them, to be sure; for 

 this I should have done, to the best of my power, even if every 

 subscriber in Europe had refused to take them. What ! said I, 

 shall the last volume of the "Birds of America" be now closed, 

 at a time when new species are in my hands? No! And in 

 spite of threats from this quarter and that, that such and such 

 persons would discontinue their subscriptions (which indeed 



