122 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 



of my worldly mission then came over 

 my mind, and having thanked the Crea- 

 tor of all for his never-failing mercy, I 

 closed my eyes, and was passing away 

 into the world of dreaming existence, 

 when suddenly there burst on my soul the 

 serenade of the Eosebreasted bird, so rich, 

 so mellow, so loud in the stillness of the 

 night, that sleep fled from my eyelids. 

 Never did I enjoy music more : it 

 thrilled through my heart, and sur- 

 rounded me with an atmosphere of bliss. 

 One might easily have imagined that 

 even the Owl, charmed by such delight- 

 ful music, remained reverently silent. 

 Long after the sounds ceased did I enjoy 

 them, and when all had again become 

 still, I stretched out my wearied limbs, 

 and gave myself up to the luxury of re- 

 pose. " 



Probably most of the seventy-five or 

 eighty copies of " Birds" which were 

 taken by subscribers in this country are 

 still extant, held by the great libraries, 



