

CHAPTER XXX VL 



Audubon'' s Last Days — His Habits — Love of Music — Description 

 cf Audubon Park — His Library and Studio — Visitors — Ex- 

 hibition of Draivings — Mental Gloaming — Loss of Sight — 

 The Naturalist'' s Death and Funeral. 



jHEN" Audubon returned from his expedition to 

 the Western Prairies, he was between sixty and 

 seventy years old, yet he began at once to work 

 with his usual energy and diligence. In a little more than 

 two years appeared the first volume of the " Quadrupeds 

 of North America ; " and this was almost his last work. 

 The second volume was prepared mostly by his sons Vic- 

 tor and John, and was jjublished the year their father 

 died. 



The interval of about three years which passed be- 

 tween the time of Audubon's return from the West and 

 the period when his mind began to fail, was a short and 

 sweet twilight to his adventurous career. His habits 

 were simple. Rising almost with the sun, he proceeded 

 to the woods to view his feathered favorites till the hour 

 at which the family usually breakfasted, except when he 

 had drawing to do, when he sat closely to his work. Af- 

 ter breakfast he drew till noon and then took a long walk. 

 At nine in the evening he generally retired. 



He was now an old man, and the fire which had burn- 

 ed so steadily in his heart was going out gradually. Yet 

 there are but few things in his life more interesting and 

 beautiful than the tranquil happiness he enjoyed in the 

 bosom of his family, with his two sons and their children 



