FINAL WORK DAYS 281 



John Edward Gray to John Woodhouse Audubon 



4 May 1847 



Beit. Museum 



My dear Sir 



I am very sorry that I am so occupied that I cannot under- 

 take to furnish you with the descriptions of the American 

 Mammalia which you have figured here but I think you will find 

 that Dr Richardsons descriptions are so accurate and detailed 

 that you had better copy them for the work than have more 

 imperfect descriptions by a less experienced and minute de- 

 scriber. 



at the same time should Dr Bachman on composing the 

 Work want any note or the distinction between any two species 

 or the description of any one wh have not contained in Rich- 

 ardson Work & he will write to me I shall have great pleasure 

 in immediately replying to his request — 



Wishing you and your family a pleasant voyage believe me 



Yours truly 



J. E. Gray 



Bachman was married in 1849 to Maria Martin, 21 his 

 former wife's sister, who had aided Audubon in drawing 

 the accessories of his large plates. While engaged upon 

 the Quadrupeds ; he wrote to Victor Audubon, from 

 Madison Springs, Georgia, on June 30 of that year, as 

 follows : 22 



I began working four hours a day, now I can work for 

 twelve. I shall lessen the hours, should I find my strength fail- 



America (vol. i, London, 1847) which I purchased in London, August, 

 1913, and which bore this inscription, in autograph, on the title: 



J. E. Gray. 

 from J W. Audubox 

 with grateful Recolections 

 May 4. 1847. 



21 Her assistance to Audubon was recognized in his dedication to her 

 of "Maria's Woodpecker," Picus martince (see Ornithological Biography 

 vol. v, p. 181). 



22 See C. L. Bachman, op. cit., p. 270. 



