138 LIFE OP AUDUBON. 



CHAPTEE XXVI. 



Visit to Pabis — Babon Cuvibe — Steeets of Paeis — A Paety at 

 Cttvier's — Geoffeot St. Hilaieb — Eecbption at the Academy op 

 Sciences — The Peincb and Peincess d'Esslin(j — Visits to Great 

 Officials — Condillot — Povebty of Peench Academy — Moeb of 



CnVIEB AND HIS HOMB, '■ 



On September 1st, 1828, Audubon quitted London for Paris, 

 and his diary freshens a little after the salt breeze of the 

 Channel. Much space, however, is as usual devoted to matters 

 quite trivial in themselves, and not likely to interest any circle 

 beyond the little domestic one for which the pages were intended. 

 The enjoyment of fresh scenes is youthful and honest — quite 

 unlike the pleasure of more sophisticated persons. Indeed, a 

 little coquetry, much physical strength, tolerable intelligence, 

 intense love of change, all blended with a nature innocent and 

 wholesome, formed the character of our wanderer. He roves 

 like an Arab, and he prattles like a child ; light-footed as an 

 elk in the free air, he turns bovine and ruminant when he tries 

 to be wise in cities. 



On arriving in Paris, his first visit was to the Jardin des 

 Plantes, and to the great Cuvier. We shall select in series his 

 notes on this and other matters, suppressing, as before, all the 

 utterly pointless matter which fills up the diary under so many 

 a date. 



" We knocked, and asked for Baron Cuvier : he was in, but 

 we were told was too busy to be seen. However, being deter- 

 mined to look at the great man, we waited and knocked again. 



