JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 129 
and exposures seriously affected Audu- 
bon’s health. He returned home in 
October, 1843. 
He was now sixty-four or five years 
of age, and the infirmities of his years 
began to steal upon him. 
The first volume of his ‘‘ Quadrupeds’’ 
was published about two years later, and 
this was practically his last work. The 
second and third volumes were mainly 
the work of his sons, John and Victor. 
The ‘‘Quadrupeds’’ does not take rank 
with his ‘‘Birds.’? It was not his first 
love. It was more an after thought to 
fill up his time. Neither the drawing 
nor the colouring of the animals, largely 
the work of his son John, approaches 
those of the birds. 
“Surely no man ever had _ better 
helpers’’ says his grand-daughter, and a 
study of his life brings us to the same 
conclusion —his devoted wife, his able 
and willing sons, were his closest helpers, 
nor do we lose sight of the assistance of 
