Mark Catesby - Passer niger, Occulis rubris, The Towhe Bird; Passer fusca, The cow-pen Bird.

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)

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)
Ardea Cærulea, The blue Heron.

Ardea Cærulea, The blue Heron. (1754)

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

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

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Acacia foliis amplioribus; Papilio diurna, prima, omnium maxima.

Acacia foliis amplioribus; Papilio diurna, prima, omnium maxima. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Frutex Lauri folio pendulo, fructu tricocco, semine nigro splendente, Red Wood; Psitticus Paradisis, The Parrot of Paradise.

Frutex Lauri folio pendulo, fructu tricocco, semine nigro splendente, Red Wood; Psitticus Paradisis, The Parrot of Paradise. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Columba capite albo, The White-crowned Pigeon; Frutex cotini fere folio crasso,&c., The Coco Plum.

Columba capite albo, The White-crowned Pigeon; Frutex cotini fere folio crasso,&c., The Coco Plum. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Aurata, The Porgy.

Aurata, The Porgy. (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)
Perca rhomboidalis &c., The Pork Fish; Perca Piunis [pinnis] &c., The Schoolmaster.

Perca rhomboidalis &c., The Pork Fish; Perca Piunis [pinnis] &c., The Schoolmaster. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Smilax &c. ; Hirundo Purpurea, The Purple Martin.

Smilax &c. ; Hirundo Purpurea, The Purple Martin. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Perca &c., The Margate Fish; Saurus &c., The Sea Sparrow-Hawk.

Perca &c., The Margate Fish; Saurus &c., The Sea Sparrow-Hawk. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Umbla minor &c., Barracuda; Vulpis Bahamensis.

Umbla minor &c., Barracuda; Vulpis Bahamensis. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Pica luteo-nigra varia, The Yellow and Black Pye; Lilio-Narcissus Polianthus; Vespa Ichneumon coerulea.

Pica luteo-nigra varia, The Yellow and Black Pye; Lilio-Narcissus Polianthus; Vespa Ichneumon coerulea. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Passerculus bicolor Bahamiensis, The Bahama Sparrow; Bignonia Arbor Pentaphylla, Plum Cat.

Passerculus bicolor Bahamiensis, The Bahama Sparrow; Bignonia Arbor Pentaphylla, Plum Cat. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
Perca &c., The Grunt; Albula Bahamensis, The Mullet.

Perca &c., The Grunt; Albula Bahamensis, The Mullet. (1754)

Mark Catesby (English, 1683 – 1749)
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