MARK CATESBY 



An early naturalist of reputation, who, while not a 

 a resident of Carolina, was one of the first to investi- 

 gate the biological- resources of our State, was Mark 

 Catesby, an English scientist, and later a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society. The birthplace of Catesby is not definitely 

 known, nor the date of his birth, but it is generally record- 

 ed that he was born in London about 1679. If so, he 

 must have removed from the place when quite young 

 according to a statement made in the preface of 

 his large and best known work, "The Natural History of 

 Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands." For its auto- 

 biographical value a portion of this is interesting, and the 

 following is quoted from it: 



**The early inclination I had to search after plants and 

 other productions in nature being much suppressed by my 

 residing too far from London, the centre of all science, I 

 was deprived of all opportunities and examples to excite 

 me to a stronger pursuit after these things to which I was 

 naturally bent. Yet my curiosity was such that, not being 

 content with contemplating the products of our own coun- 

 try, I soon imbibed a passionate desire of viewing as well 

 the animal and vegetable productions in their native coun- 

 tries, which were strangers to England. Virginia was the 

 place, as I had relations there, which suited most with my 

 convenience to go, where I arrived the 23rd of April, 

 1712. I thought then so little of prosecuting a design of 

 the nature of this work that in the seven years I resided 

 in that country, (I am ashamed to own it,) I chiefly grat- 

 ified my inclination in observing and admiring the various 

 productions of these countries, only sending from thence 

 some dried specimens of plants, and some of the most 

 specious of them in tubs of earth, at the request of some 

 curious friends, amongst whom was Mr. Dale, cf Brain- 

 tree, in Essex, a skilful apothecary and botanist. To him. 



