186 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



deau whether he ever saw my Hirundo Serripennis in America. 

 Bachman wrote to me that Trudeau thought he had in the skins 

 of Frederick Ward. I think Trudeau will be pleased with the 

 anatomy of our birds, as it opens misteries hitherto unknown 

 in connection with the relative affinities of some species toward 

 others and assists in the formation of groups &c, in what some 

 day or other, will be called a Natural arrangement! 



I wish I could have spent a few weeks in Paris with you 

 and Trudeau, as I readily imagine that some new species of 

 North American birds, may yet be found there unknown to the 

 World of Science. I have written to Mr. Chevalier and to 

 Townsend, but will not, I dare say, hear anything more of the 

 former until through Victor, who intends to see him very shortly 

 after his arrival in America. 



My Dear Wife is much better than when you saw her, and 

 I hope that when once again she has been safely landed on our 

 shores and enjoyed the warmth of our own Summers, her health 

 will be quite restored. 



The Little Lucy has grown as fat as butter, and the rest of 

 us are well. 



We all unite in kindest best wishes to you and to Trudeau, 

 and I remain as ever, my Dear Friend, 



Yours, 



John J. Audubon. 

 6 Alva Street. 



In May, 1839, Audubon's fifth and last volume of 

 the Ornithological Biography, consisting of 704 pages, 

 was issued. It was followed almost immediately by A 

 Synopsis of the Birds of North America, in which the 

 efficient aid of MacGillivray was again enlisted. On 

 May 4 Audubon wrote to Havell that this work was 

 in press and would be ready in about a month's time; 

 again, on the 30th of June he announced that it was 

 finished and in the hands of the binder. With this 

 methodical catalogue of the birds of North America 



