Audubon. 205 



is better, come and see me work, and aid me in getting 

 specimens. 



Soon after Audubon 's return from his perilous 

 journeys among the Rocky Mountains, his friend 

 first marked, with deep concern, a lack of that noble 

 enthusiasm in his work, that had formerly touched 

 all hearts, and made his studies and labors in 

 Natural History a source of delight to himself and 

 to all lovers of Nature. It was supposed that in his 

 eager search for specimens to carry on his great 

 work, he had overtaxed the strength of his body 

 and mind. His friend and co-laborer wrote to him 

 frequently, and sought to arouse and interest him 

 in his former loved pursuits. 



To AUDUBON : 



Do you want, friend Jostle, to hear about the 

 Ourassows? The vagabonds climb up the fruit 

 trees in my yard, in spite of their wings being cut ; 

 and they pluck off the green fruit. Besides, they 

 have nearly stripped my peacock of feathers ; they 

 peck away at the servants and race the children. 

 They build, I find, on trees ; the old male, as large 

 as a turkey, built a nest on my mulberry tree, and 

 sat bellowing like a Bullfrog, to invite the female 

 up. Before she followed, she dropped an egg in the 

 yard; it looked like that of the Turkey -buzzard. * * 



During the summer of 1845, accompanied by two 

 of his daughters, he went North, attended a meeting 

 of the General Synod, and spent a few weeks at 

 Audubon's home on the Hudson River. 



