20 Life of Audubon, 



ing to those immediately concerned, we pass on to other 

 matters. 



At Mill Grove Audubon pored over his idea of a 

 great work on American Ornithology, until the thought 

 took some shape in his fervid mind. The work he had 

 prepared for himself to do was an * Ornithological Biog- 

 raphy,' including an account of the habits and a descrip- 

 tion of the birds of America ; that work which in its 

 completed form Cuvier pronounced to be " The most 

 gigantic biblical enterprise ever undertaken by a single 

 individual." However, it was only after his drawings and 

 his descriptions accumulated upon him that Audubon de- 

 cided to give the collection the form of a scientific work. 



Audubon speaks of his life at Mill Grove as being in 

 every way agreeable. He had ample means for all his 

 wants, was gay, extravagant, and fond of dress. He rath- 

 er naively writes in his journal, "I had no vices ; but was 

 thoughtless, pensive, loving, fond of shooting, fishing, and 

 riding, and had a passion for raising all sorts of fowls, 

 which sources of interest and amusement fully occupied 

 my time. It was one of my fancies to be ridiculously 

 fond of dress ; to hunt in black satin breeches, wear 

 pumps when shooting, and dress in the finest rufiled shirts 

 I could obtain from France." He was also fond of danc- 

 ing, and music, and skating, and attended all the balls 

 and skating parties in the neighborhood. Regarding his 

 mode of life, Audubon gives some hints useful to those 

 who desire to strengthen their constitution by an abste- 

 mious diet. He says : — " I ate no butcher's meat, lived 

 chiefly on fruits, vegetables, and fish, and never drank a 

 glass of spirits or wine until my wedding day. To this I 

 attribute my continual good health, endurance, and an 

 iron constitution. So strong was the habit, that I disliked 

 going to dinner parties, where people were expected to 

 indulge in eating and drinking, and where often there was 



