AUDUBON'S GREATEST TRIUMPH 185 



promises of them from Trudeau as yet, perhaps you would 

 undertake the task yourself, and show to Havell as soon as 

 possible, for I shall be sadly in want of them in a few weeks 

 more. I should also like you to try to find Mr. Augustus 

 Thorndike of Boston, to whom Victor wrote a few days ago, 

 with the view to inquire from that Gentleman when he wished 

 his copy of the Birds of America to be delivered. Victor ad- 

 dressed his letter to "his Hotel" or to the care of the "American 

 Embassy." We are not sure, however, whether he is in Paris 

 at present, and let me know what discoveries you have made 

 as regards this. — Victor will remain ten days in London and 

 wishes you, should you write to him there, to put your letter 

 under cover to Havell and request him to keep it. Victor will 

 write you from thence, 



I cannot account why Trudeau has not written to me in 

 answer to my last, now full two months old? Should you per- 

 chance discover a specimen of the Bird of Washington in Paris 

 and purchase the same, I should like you to send it to me on 

 loan to enable me to compare it with mine, and the Immature 

 of the F. Albicilla of Europe! 



I have got twelve sheets of the 5 th. Vol. of Biographies 

 already printed, and I expect to have quite finished by the 1st. 

 of April next. I have decided on the Trichas resembling Sylvia 

 Philadelphia of Wilson. It is a distinct species, but what will 

 probably surprise you more, the S. Agilis of the same author is 

 also perfectly distinct from either. All this you will plainly see 

 when you read their separate descriptions and compare the 

 three species. 



I wish you would ask Trudeau whether he recollects the 

 specimen of an Eagle send by Townsend in his first collection, 

 numbering 54 and which the latter has lost, though he con- 

 sidered it as a new species. It was procured in California. 

 Townsend speaks sorrowfully of the loss of this specimen. It 

 never came under my eye, did it come under yours? Ask Tru- 



Naturalists," is translated by Alexandre Postels. The expedition traversed 

 the Behrinp; Sea, touched at some of the Aleutian Islands, and then ex- 

 plored South America as far as the coast of Chili. 



