CHAPTER XXXVI 



AFTERWORD: AUDUBON'S FAMILY IN AMERICA 



Bachman completes his text on the Quadrupeds — Victor Audubon's success 

 in canvassing — John Woodhouse Audubon's family — New houses at 

 "Minnie's Land" — Second octavo edition of the Birds — -Victor Audu- 

 bon's illness and death — Attempt to reissue The Birds of America in 

 America — The residual stock of this imperfect edition— Death of John 

 Woodhouse Audubon — His career and work as an artist and field col- 

 lector — Mrs. Audubon resumes her old vocation — Fate of "Minnie's 

 Land" — Death of Mrs. Audubon — Her share in her husband's fame — 

 Story written on Audubon's original drawings — Fate of the original 

 copper plates of the Birds — A boy comes to the rescue — "Minnie's 

 Land" today— The "Cave"— A real "Audubon Park." 



After the death of the elder Audubon, his sons, under 

 the leadership of Bachman, continued the work on the 

 Quadrupeds until the third and last volume of the letter- 

 press was completed in 1852. On March 13 of that 

 year Bachman wrote to Edward Harris : 1 



Rejoice with me, the book is finished. I did not expect to 

 have lived to complete it. But Victor Audubon came on, and 

 I made him hold the pen, while I dictated with specimens and 

 books before me, and we went on rapidly ; we worked hard, 

 and now we are at the end of our labors. I have, at last, 

 prevailed on them to give the Bats. At the end of the work, 

 I intend to give a synopsis and scientific arrangement of all 

 our American species, including seals, whales and porpoises. 



— ■■■■■■■ 



1 See C. L. Bachman, John Bachman, D.D., LL.D., Ph.D. (Bibl. No. 

 191), p. 276. The suggestion made to Mr. Harris was adopted, which 

 accounts for the six colored plates inserted in the third volume of the 

 text; the "Large Work" referred to the folio plates without accompanying 

 text, the "Small," to the first composite edition of both text and plates; 

 see Bibliography, Nos. 5-7. 



291 



