28 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 
bones, stamped his countenance with 
a peculiar character. His dress, too, 
was of a kind not usually seen in that 
part of the country ; a short coat, trous- 
ers and a waistcoat of grey cloth. His 
stature was not above the middle size. 
He had two volumes under his arm, and 
as he approached the table at which I 
was working, I thought I discovered 
something like astonishment in his coun- 
tenance. He, however, immediately 
proceeded to disclose the object of his 
visit, which was to procure subscrip- 
tions for his work. He opened his 
books, explained the nature of his occu- 
pations, and requested my patronage. 
I felt surprised and gratified at the sight. 
of his volumes, turned over a few of the 
plates, and had already taken my pen 
to write my name in his favour, when my 
partner rather abruptly said to me in 
French: ‘My dear Audubon, what in- 
duces you to subscribe to this work? 
Your drawings are certainly far better ; 
