JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 129 

 and exposures seriously affected Audu- 

 bon's health. He returned home in 

 October, 1843. 



He was now sixty-four or five years 

 of age, and the infirmities of his years 

 began to steal upon him. 



The first volume of his ' l Quadrupeds ' 7 

 was published about two years later, and 

 this was practically his last work. The 

 second and third volumes were mainly 

 the work of his sons, John and Victor. 



The ' ' Quadrupeds J > does not take rank 

 with his " Birds." It was not his first 

 love. It was more an after thought to 

 fill up his time. Neither the drawing 

 nor the colouring of the animals, largely 

 the work of his son John, approaches 

 those of the birds. 



"Surely no man ever had better 

 helpers ' 7 says his grand-daughter, and a 

 study of his life brings us to the same 

 conclusion his devoted wife, his able 

 and willing sons, were his closest helpers, 

 nor do we lose sight of the assistance of 



