Mark Catesby - Althea [Alcea] Floridana, The Loblolly-Bay; Avis Tricolor, The Painted Finch.

Mark Catesby was an English naturalist who studied flora and fauna in the New World. Between 1729 and 1747 Catesby published his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, the first published account of the flora and fauna of North America. It included 220 plates of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, mammals and plants.

More Illustrations in Book: The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands (View all 220)

Novacula, The Blue Fish.

Novacula, The Blue Fish. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Magnolia Lauri folio, Subtus albicante, The Sweet flowring Bay; Coccothraustes coeruleus, The blew Grosbeak.

Magnolia Lauri folio, Subtus albicante, The Sweet flowring Bay; Coccothraustes coeruleus, The blew Grosbeak. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Quercus Castanea foliis, procera Arbor Virginiana, Chesnut Oak; Picus carius major, alis aureis, The golden Winged Woodpecker.

Quercus Castanea foliis, procera Arbor Virginiana, Chesnut Oak; Picus carius major, alis aureis, The golden Winged Woodpecker. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Rubicilla minor nigra, The little black Bullfinch; Amelanchier &c., The Fringe Tree.

Rubicilla minor nigra, The little black Bullfinch; Amelanchier &c., The Fringe Tree. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Pelicanus Sylvaticus, The Wood Pelican.

Pelicanus Sylvaticus, The Wood Pelican. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Gramen Myloicophoron Oxyphyllon Carolinianum, The Sea-side Oat; Alauda gutture flavo, The Lark.

Gramen Myloicophoron Oxyphyllon Carolinianum, The Sea-side Oat; Alauda gutture flavo, The Lark. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Nux juglans Virginiana alba &c., The Hiccory Tree; The Pig-nut; Coccothraustes ruber, The red Bird.

Nux juglans Virginiana alba &c., The Hiccory Tree; The Pig-nut; Coccothraustes ruber, The red Bird. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Rana maxima, The Bull-Frog; Helleborena, The Lady’s Slipper of Pennsylvania.

Rana maxima, The Bull-Frog; Helleborena, The Lady’s Slipper of Pennsylvania. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Testudo marina viridis, The Green-Turtle.

Testudo marina viridis, The Green-Turtle. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker; The smallest spotted Woodpecker; White Oak; The White Oak with sharp notches.

The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker; The smallest spotted Woodpecker; White Oak; The White Oak with sharp notches. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Viscum; Sciurus, The Grey Fox-Squirrel.

Viscum; Sciurus, The Grey Fox-Squirrel. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Cancer Chelis Rubris, The res-claw Crab; Titanokeratophyton &c.

Cancer Chelis Rubris, The res-claw Crab; Titanokeratophyton &c. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Icterus minor, The basterd Baltimore Bird; Bignonia Urusu foliis &c., The Catalpah Tree.

Icterus minor, The basterd Baltimore Bird; Bignonia Urusu foliis &c., The Catalpah Tree. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Hæmatopus, The Oyster Catcher.

Hæmatopus, The Oyster Catcher. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Perca &c., The Negro-Fish; Perca cauda nigra, The Black-Tail.

Perca &c., The Negro-Fish; Perca cauda nigra, The Black-Tail. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
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