| Alexander Wilson Gallery |
| American Ornithology | |||
| Alexander Wilson, one of the founders of American ornithology, was born in Scotland in 1766. In 1794, he emigrated to the United States and by 1802 had met William Bartram in Philadelphia, whose botanical and zoological library was of great interest to Wilson. It was Bartram who encouraged Wilson to begin to draw. The two spent many hours discussing the material which appeared in these books. Aware that there was no scientific study of bird-life in America, Wilson decided to produce such a work himself. He made several trips to study the birds in their natural habitats and to collect specimens. In 1808 the first volume of Wilson's 'American Ornithology' was published. It was illustrated by 76 plates, drawn by Wilson, and engraved mainly by Alexander Lawson. Wilson planned to complete his work in ten volumes. This was a very large and expensive undertaking, and subscribers had to be recruited for the work, which was priced at $120 per set. By 1813, having completed Volume VIII, he decided to shorten the proposed series to nine volumes. Because of the costs and his dissatisfaction with the work of his colorists, Wilson dismissed them, and assumed more and more of the work himself. This contributed to his already deteriorating physical condition, and he was finally overcome by an attack of dysentery in August of that year. The work was finished by George Ord, a naturalist who had written several articles of his own. Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a great admirer of Wilson's and an ornithologist in his own right, undertook to publish an 'American Ornithology' of his own which was to supplement Wilson's. The first volume of this work appeared in 1825, and was entitled 'American Ornithology: or, The Natural History of Birds Inhabiting the United States Not Given By Wilson'. It eventually filled four volumes, and was accompanied by twenty-seven plates, drawn by Alexander Rider and engraved by Lawson. | |||
| Publication City: Philadelphia Medium: Hand-colored engravings Dimensions: 11.5 x 13 inches Date: 1808-14 | |||
| SELECTIONS FROM THIS WORK | |||
 Blackbird details |  Cliff Swallow & Burrowing Owl details |  Condor details |  Cuckoos Warblers details |  Dipper, Waxwing & Bullfinch details |  Dusky Grouse details |  Grackles, Snowbunting & Canada Jay details |  Hawk & Doves details |  Hawk & Warbler details |  Phalaropes, Sandpiper & Plover details |  Siskin Finches details |  Snipe, Sandpiper & Ibis details |  Stellers Jay & Longspurs details |  Woodpeckers & Pigeon details |  Wren Flycatchers details |  Yellow-headed Blackbirds & Warbler details |
