(Above) The composite version of plate CCXXX (230), the sanderling (or ruddy plover). Added to the norma! version of this plate 

 (opposite, above) is a figure of a male in spring plumage, taken from plate CCLXXXV (285) (opposite, below). In his comments on plate 

 230 in his Ornithological Biography (vol. Ill, p. 232) Audubon mentioned the oversight by which this figure of the sanderling was 

 separated from the two on plate 2 30: "The figure of a fine male, which, being on another sheet of paper, was overlooked. . .you will find in 

 Plate CCLXXXV. ..." The composition unites these three figures as originally intended. Note the considerable changes to the background, 

 particularly at the left. 



relating to the Gifford copy, however, are completely 

 contradictory. 



There is abundant evidence, some of it quoted by 

 Fries, that Gifford received each volume of her set bound 

 up in normal plate number order as it was completed. In 

 a letter of 29 June 1831 Audubon writes Gifford: "I have 

 the pleasure to send you the first volume of my work 

 bound as near according to your own directions as either 

 Lucy or myself can conceive." 2 Volume 1, completed in 

 1830, contained plates 1-100; plates 1-100 in Field 

 Museum's copy are located in three different volumes 

 due to the arrangement by species rather than plate 

 number. A letter of 27 July 1834 indicates shipment of 



Beginning Monday, June 30 each of the 13 compos- 

 ite plates in Field Museum's copy of The Birds of 

 America will be displayed for one week in the 

 North Lounge (third floor), where the Audubon 

 display case is located. The plate on display will be 

 changed each Monday morning through the last 

 full week of September. 



15 



