132 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



animals of Great Britain. The astonishing success with which 

 jou have depicted a whole class of the productions of your 

 native land, as evinced in the incomparable delineations of 

 your "Birds of America," renders your opinions respecting or- 

 nithological drawings of the very highest authority ; and I 

 have been anxious to submit my attempts to your decision, 

 which, if unfavourable, will induce me to remedy my defects, 

 or, if otherwise, will encourage me to proceed with an under- 

 taking, which by its arduousness and extent, is precisely suited 

 to my disposition. I shall therefore feel grateful for the ex- 

 pression of your ideas respecting the Drawings, and I request 

 that should you favour me with it, you will not scruple to 

 censure freely, should you find occasion. 

 I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, 



your most obedient servant, 



W. MacGillivray. 

 [Addressed] To J. J. Audubon, Esqe. 



Edinburgh. 



Audubon and MacGillivray finished their work in 

 November, and by the first of December the manuscript 

 of the second volume of the Ornithological Biography 

 was in the printer's hands. On the 10th of the latter 

 month Audubon wrote to Bachman from Edinburgh: 

 "I am quite sure I never have been half as anxious as I 

 am at this moment to do all in my power to compleat 

 my vast enterprise, and sorrowful indeed would be my 

 dying moments if this book of mine were not finished 

 ere my eyes are for ever closed." The naturalist was 

 thinking of materials for new "Episodes" for the work 

 when he added: 



Try to study the habits of the alligator, the time of its 

 propagation, number of eggs, form of the nest, &c, &c, &c. I 

 long to possess all respecting this reptile (amphibian) [sic] 

 for my article of the Wood Ibis and Sand Hill Crane, for it 



