THE ENIGMA OF AUDUBON’S LIFE 269 
speak of you, and is as much astonished as I am that we re- 
ceive no news of you. 
The naturalist’s elder son, Victor, visited Couéron 
about the year 1835, when his cousin, Gabriel Loyen du 
Puigaudeau the second, who was nearly of the same age, 
returned from military service to meet him. He was 
disappointed at the appearance of his father’s old home, 
“La Gerbetiére,” which had not been occupied by the 
family for fifteen years.” 
Rosa Audubon du Puigaudeau, the naturalist’s sis- 
ter, died at “Les Tourterelles” after August 3, 1842, 
leaving a daughter, Rose du Puigaudeau, who died 
without issue, October 20, 1881, and, if we are correctly 
informed, one son, Gabriel Loyen du Puigaudeau the 
second, who died at “Les Tourterelles,’ Couéron, June 
23, 1892, when past his eightieth year; a daughter of 
this only son was married to Monsieur L. Lavigne, 
notary at Couéron. At the time of her uncle’s death, 
his property, including the personal records of Lieuten- 
ant Jean Audubon, passed into the hands of Madame 
Lavigne, who is a grand step-niece of the naturalist, and 
who aside from her children, so far as known, is the 
only surviving member of his family in France. 
At this point we must examine a little more care- 
fully the peculiar status of what Audubon referred to 
2 It was thought that Victor had come to settle the family’s financial 
affairs, and his uncle and aunt asked if this were the case; he replied 
that it was not, that the children of Jean Audubon who were in America 
had taken their [share of the] property in that country, while those in 
France had theirs in France; he considered that all was settled, but if 
Rosa’s children wished for any money, they had but to ask for it, and 
the heirs in America would send them what they desired; the subject 
was then dropped. A considerable correspondence followed this visit, but 
the letters were all destroyed about twenty-five years ago by Monsieur du 
Puigaudeau, when putting his effects in order. This account is given on 
the authority of Monsieur Lavigne. 
