Some Early American Ornithologists 127 



desire to broaden his knowledge of natural history caused him to contem- 

 plate a visit to America, and, having relatives in Virginia, he made that 

 colony his objective point. He arrived April 23, 1712, and remained five 

 years, familiarizing himself with the strange plants and animals that every- 

 where confronted him. Upon his return to England, he seems to have ex- 

 perienced much regret at not having obtained more substantial results and 

 he soon determined to visit again the New World and prepare an account 

 of its natural history suitable for publication. 



A number of prominent men lent him financial assistance, and on the 

 23d of May, 1722, he arrived at Charleston, S. C. To quote from the 

 introduction of his work, he explored the "low country" during the first 

 year, "searching after, collecting and describing the animals and plants"; he 

 then went "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." 

 He found the life in the upland quite different from that of the lowland, 

 thus giving us one of the first intimations of the effect of altitude upon geo- 

 graphic distribution. "This," he says, "encouraged me to take several 

 journeys with the Indians higher up the rivers, toward the mountains, 

 which afiforded me not only a succession of new vegetable appearances, but 

 the diversion of hunting Buffaloes, Bears, Panthers, and other beasts." 



He took with him a box in which he placed his dried plants and his 

 painting materials; for, though he admits that he "was not bred a painter," 

 he boldly attempted to portray the birds and plants that he discovered, with 

 the result that, though "violent both in drawing and color,"* his plates are 

 almost all easily recognizable. 



Catesby spent three years in Carolina and Georgia and then visited the 

 Bahamas — "Providence, Ilathera, Andros and Abbacco." Reaching London 

 in 1726, he set about publishing his book, but was deterred by the great 

 expense involved in such an undertaking. However, he began learning the 

 art of etching on copper, and, having acquired sufficient skill for his pur- 

 pose, he, himself, prepared the 220 folio copper plates which illustrate this 

 remarkable work; and, with pecuniary assistance from his friends, the work 

 appeared in two large volumes, entitled, 'The Natural History of Carolina, 

 Florida, and the Bahama Islands,' the text printed in English and French, 

 in parallel columns. The first volume was published in 1731, and the sec- 

 ond, 1743, and an appendix in 1748. Two other editions appeared later. 



Regarding the preponderance of birds in his work, Catesby says: "As 



there is a greater variety of the feathered kind than of other animals, and as 



they excel in the beauty of their colors * * * I was induced chiefly to com - 



pleat an account of them, rather than to describe promiscuously insects and 



other animals, by which method I believe very few birds have escaped my 



knowledge, except some Water Fowl, and some of those which frequent 



the sea." 



*Coues. 



