56 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Nov. 5, 
desire, for the study and careful investigation of that scientific 
portion of his subject, of which he frankly declared himself to 
have been ignorant. 
But we admire in him the painstaking observer, the field 
naturalist, who, daunted by no difficulties, penetrated the un- 
known forests, living with the Indians, or in the midst of 
scarcely less savage beasts, encountering with cheerful courage 
unnumbered privations, hunger, cold, storms and oppressive 
heat, to secure specimens which afterwards were made to live 
again in the pages of his immortal work. 
He was the type of that class of naturalists whose labors pro- 
vide the means by which his more scientific brothers are enabled 
to reach definite conclusions, demonstrate Nature’s problems 
and explain the laws by which her kingdom is governed. 
There is not now left much for me to tell. Audubon returned 
from his last expedition in October, 1843, and immediately be- 
gan to work upon his Quadrupeds of America, the first volume 
of which appeared two years afterwards. He lived on his place, 
now known as Audubon Park, at that time far removed from 
the bricks, dust and grime of the great city, which he could 
never tolerate. ‘ Ah,” he once said, ‘‘ how often when I have 
been abroad on the mountains, has my heart risen in grateful 
praise to God, that it was not my destiny to waste and pine 
among the noisome congregations of the city.” 
The first volume of the Quadrupeds was his last work. He 
retained his simple habits, passed much of his time in the woods 
or at his easel; but he was now verging towards three score and 
ten, and while the love of his pursuit was as great as ever, the 
number of his accomplished years had tempered the ardor of 
his energetic spirit, and the fire of his youthful passion was 
gradually lapsing into a fitful glow. 
His life was peaceful and happy, surrounded, as he writes ‘t by 
all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of 
numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing 
a sufticient share of all that contributes to make life agreeable. 
I lift my grateful eyes towards the Supreme Being and feel that 
T am happy.” 
One day he discovered that he could not adjust his glasses so 
as to find a focus upon his canvas, and from that moment he 
began to fail. The devoted wife, who had always been his 
mainstay throughout his chequered career, now never left him, 
reading to him, and during his walks about the grounds that 
surrounded the house and which stretched to the banks of the 
Hudson, was always at his side. But the once erect, lithe and 
agile figure was now lost in the feeble form of a weak old man. 
