INTRODUCTION 



More birds have been made known to science from South 

 Carolina than from any other state except California. Indeed, 

 of valid species South Carolina has nearly twice as many as 

 California, the great majority credited to the latter state being 

 merely subspecies. For South Carolina there are but four sub- 

 species: the Mourning Dove, Osprey, MacgilUvray's Seaside 

 Sparrow, and Bachman's Sparrow, all of which are so distinct 

 as to be recognized at sight. South Carolina thus stands easily 

 first among the States of the Union in ornithological history. 



The first extended account of the birds of South Carolina 

 was given by WiUiam Hilton (1664) in the narrative of his voy- 

 age along the coast. Among the birds he described were "great 

 flocks of Parrakeetos," a species which has become extinct. 



The first great natural history written and published in colonial 

 days was Mark Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida, 

 and the^'Bahama Islands, 1731-1748. In this momunental work 

 Catesby figured and described many of our best known birds, 

 including the Fhcker (YeUow-hammer), Hummingbird, Blue Jay, 

 Robin, and Blue Bird. 



It should be explained that although Catesby's book treats 

 of Florida (the part now known as Georgia) and the Bahama 

 Islands, as well as of CaroHna, he devoted his time in Carolina to 

 the study of birds and plants, while in the Bahamas he studied 

 fishes. Nearly all his birds, therefore, are described from Carolina. 



Catesby arrived in South Carolina May 23, 1722, and spent 

 the first year in the coast country. He then visited the upper, 

 uninhabited portions of the state. An Indian guide carried his 

 collecting box and painting materials, and he painted the plants 

 while fresh and drew the birds from life. 



Although the province of CaroHna originally included what is 

 now both North and South Carohna, it is clear that Catesby's 

 work was confined exclusively to the latter. His own descrip- 

 tion of his travels gives no indication of work beyond the borders 

 of South Carolina. Furthermore, at the time Catesby wrote. 



