JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. 199 



In 1836 he came back to America for further 

 research, and received a warm welcome from dis- 

 tinguished men. Daniel Webster and Washington 

 Irving became his earnest friends. The latter 

 said that his work " was highly creditable to the 

 nation," and deserved "national patronage. 37 He 

 dined with Andrew Jackson at the White House. 

 On his return to England he wrote the fourth 

 volume of the "Ornithological Biography," and 

 the fifth the following year. 



This year, 1839, he returned to America to spend 

 the rest of his life, purchased a home on the banks 

 of the Hudson in upper New York, which he called 

 " Minnie's Land," the Scotch word for mother, this 

 being the name by which he generally addressed his 

 wife, to whom he left the whole of it at his death. 



He was now sixty, but his work was not done. 

 He immediately began to bring out his " Birds of 

 America " in seven octavo volumes, with the figures 

 reduced and lithographed. He exhibited in New 

 York his wonderful collection of drawings, several 

 thousands of birds and animals, all the size of life, 

 by his own hands. 



In 1843, taking his son Victor, he started on an 

 expedition to the Yellowstone River, to collect 

 animals and drawings for another great work, the 

 " Quadrupeds of North America." After nearly a 

 year he returned, and began his book. In two 

 years the first volume was ready ; but after this he 

 could do no more. The rest of the great work was 

 finished by his sons after his death. 



