Catesby's Natural History (1731-43)
Mark Catesby. The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants: particularly the forest-trees, shrubs, and other plants, not hitherto described, or very incorrectly figured by authors. Together with their descriptions in English and French. To which, are added observations on the air, soil, and waters: with remarks upon agriculture, grain, pulse, roots, &c. London: 1731-43. 2 vols.
Catesby's flowering dogwood and mockingbird
The published colored drawings of Mark Catesby, English traveler and naturalist, are cited in the works of many botanists, including Linnaeus. In his extensive travels in the southeastern United States, Catesby found and drew the rare rose-colored form of Cornus florida or flowering dogwood, and included it with his drawing of the "Mock-Bird" displayed here. In his 1818 Philadelphia flora, William Barton cites Catesby's drawing, but does not mention color. He writes that the dogwood "so very common in all our woods…is one of the greatest ornaments" and that its medicinal virtues are "tonic and antiseptic." Today the flowering dogwood occasionally occurs as an understory forest tree in Fairmount Park.
Mark Catesby included a drawing of Diospyros virginiana (persimmon) with his drawing of the flying squirrel displayed here. (Catesby called it Guajacana.) In his 1818 Philadelphia flora, William Bartram cites Catesby's drawing of Diospyros and states that the "fruit when ripe and touched by the frost is quite pleasant, but is very astringent and acerb, otherwise." He further states that it occurs "On the borders of woods and in fields. On the Delaware between Kaighn's point and the next ferry below, near Woodbury; abundant." Today there are scattered occurrences of this tree in Fairmount Park in the habitats described above.