JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. 189 



Natural History Society, and of the Eoyal Society. 

 He was pleased, and said, "So, poor Audubon, if 

 not rich, thou wilt be honored at least, and held in 

 high esteem among men." 



No wonder he wrote to his wife : " My success 

 in Edinburgh borders on the miraculous. My book 

 is to be published in numbers, containing four birds 

 in each, the size of life, in a style surpassing any- 

 thing now existing, at two guineas a number. The 

 engravings are truly beautiful ; some of them have 

 been colored, and are now on exhibition. ... I ex- 

 pect to visit the Duke of Northumberland, who has 

 promised to subscribe for my work. . . . One hun- 

 dred subscribers for my book will pay all expenses. 

 Some persons are terrified at the sum of one hun- 

 dred and eighty guineas for a work," nearly a 

 thousand dollars, "but this amount is to be 

 spread over eight years, during which time the 

 volumes will be gradually completed. I am feted, 

 feasted ; elected honorary member of societies, 

 making money by my exhibition and by my paint- 

 ings. It is Mr. Audubon here, and Mr. Audubon 

 there, and I can only hope that Mr. Audubon will 

 not be made a conceited fool at last." There was 

 no fear of this. He always remained the modest, 

 earnest, devoted student of nature. 



He read before the Natural History Society a 

 paper on the habits of the wild pigeon. He says, 

 " I began that paper on Wednesday, wrote all day, 

 and sat up until half-past three the next morning ; 

 and so absorbed was my whole soul and spirit in 



