Hccriiniini^s of Natural History in America, 2)77 



history of American ornithology is hardly justifiable. I^awson l^elonged 

 to the school of Harriot and the first Clayton. 



Edward Bohun and Jol) Lord, of Carolina, appear to have been inter- 

 ested in natural history at this time and to have Ix^en collecting speci- 

 mens for Petiver in London, while William Vernon was engaged in 

 similar occupations in Maryland. 



In those early days all Europe was anxious to hear of the wonders of 

 America, and still more eager to see the strange ol)jects whicli exjilorers 

 might be able to preserve and bring Ijack with them. Pubjic museums 

 were as 3'et unknown, l)Ut the reigning princes sought eagerl)^ to secure 

 novelties in the shape of animals and plants. 



Columbus was charged by Queen Isabella to collect Ijirds, and it is 

 recorded that he took back to vSpain various skins of beasts. Even to 

 this day may 1)e seen, in Siena, hanging over the walls of the old colle- 

 giate church, a votive offering, placed there nearly four centuries ago by 

 the discoverer of America, then in the prime of his glory. It consists of 

 the helmet and armor worn l)y him wheii he first stepped ujion the .soil 

 of the New World, and the rostrum of a swordfish killed on the American 

 coast. 



The vState papers of Great Britain contain many entries of interest to 

 naturalists. King James I was an enthusiastic collector. December 15, 

 1609, Lord vSouthampton wrote to Lord Salisbury that he had told the 

 King of the Virginia squirrels l)rought into England, which were said to 

 fly. The King very earnestly asked if none were pro\-ided for him — 

 whether Salisbury had none for him— and said he was sure Salisbury 

 would get him one. The writer apologizes for troubling Lord Salisbury, 

 "but," he continues, "you know so well how he (the King) is affected 

 to such t03^s. ' ' 



Charles I appears to have been equally curious in such matters. In 

 1637 he sent John Tradescant, the younger, to Virginia "to gather all 

 rarities of flowers, plants, and shells." 



In 1625 we find Tradescant writing to one Nicholas that it is the Duke 

 of Buckingham's pleasure that he should deal with all merchants from 

 all places, but especially from Virginia, Bermudas, Newfoundland, Guinea, 

 the Amazons, and the East Indies for all manner of rare beasts, fowls 

 and birds, .shells and shining stones, etc' 



In the Domestic Correspondence of Charles I, in another place, ^ July, 

 1625, is a " Note of things desired from Guinea, for which letters are to 

 be written to the merchants of the Guinea Company." Among other 

 items referred to are "an elephant's head with the teeth very large; a 

 river hor.se' s head; strange .sorts of fowls; birds and fishes' skins; great 

 flying and sucking fishes; all sorts of serpents, dried fruits, .shining stones, 

 etc." Still further on is a note of one Jeremy Blackman's charge, in all 



'Calendar of Colonial Papers, IV, 1625, p. 77. 

 = Idem., Ill, p. 75, Nos. 155, 156. 



