The North American Birds of Mark Catesby and Eleazar Albin

Statements as the place and date of birth of Mark Catesby vary, but as a result of personal research, Elsa G. Allen has established the day as 24 March 1682, and the place as probably the village of Castle Hedingham, Essex, England. Little is known of his education, but it is supposed that he went London on account of the opportunities for the study of natural science. His first trip America was Virginia, where a sister and a niece were the wives of prominent people, the former having married Dr. William Cocke, Secretary the Governor. From Catesby's own account, we learn that he arrived in Virginia 23 April 1712. As he later mentioned seeing certain birds in Maryland, it is evident that he also visited that province. In the year 1714, he informs us, I travelled from the lower Part of St. James's River in Virginia that Part of the Apalatchian Mountains where the Sources of that River rise. Botany was his first interest and in the seven eight years of this stay he collected both living and dried plants for friends in England and sent observations William Sherard, who had encouraged him begin the work. He returned England in 1719 with the largest collection of plants that had up that time been made in the New World. There he arranged and studied the material. With financial assistance of a number of patrons, he prepared for a second trip America, determined make up for opportunities lost on the first one. In 1722 he left for Carolina, where he arrived 23 May. Charles Town was his first headquarters and for a year he explored the inhabited section extending about 60 miles west from the sea, searching after, collecting, and describing the Animals and Plants. I then went, he continues, to the Upper uninhabited Parts of the Country, and continued at and about Fort Moore, a small Fortress on the Banks of the River, Savanna, which runs from thence a Course of 300 Miles down the Sea, and is about the same Distance from its Source, in the Mountains. He made several journeys with Indians towards the mountains collecting and painting. He still seemed have been interested primarily in plants and among animals he gave most attention birds. He spent nearly three years in territory now known as South Carolina and Georgia, then he went Providence, Bahamas, visiting also several other islands, including the Bermudas. He admits that he was not bred a painter and hopes his faults in perspective and other niceties may be excused. The birds he mostly painted alive and gave them their Gestures peculiar every kind.