Mark Catesby (1683-1749)

T46-The Chatterer

from Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands..., Volume 1

Published, London, 1771-1810, Third edition

Engraving with hand coloring

Image size: 20 1/4 x 13 1/2"

Ref: Anker, Bird Books and Bird Art, 95

Currently known as the cedar waxwing, Bomby cillacedrorum and Carolina allspice or eastern sweetshrub, Calycanthus floridus*, Catesby described these subjects as follows:

GARRULUS CAROLINENSIS.

The Chatterer.

It weighs an Ounce and is rather less than a Sparrow; The Bill black; the Mouth and Throat large. From the Nostrils runs a black Lift to the back of its Head, like Velvet, with a Line of white on the lower Edge, in which stand the Eyes. The rest of its Head and Neck, brown. On its Crown is a piramidal Creft of the same Colour. The Breast is brown; the Back and Covert-Feathers of the Wing somewhat darker; the Belly pale, and yellow. What distinguishes this Bird from others, are eight small red Patches at the Extremities of eight of the smaller Wing-Feathers, of the Colour and Consistence of red Sealing-Wax. When the Wing is clos'd, these Patches unite, and form a large red Spot. The Tail is black, except the End, Which is yellow.
 

Frutex corni foliis conjugatis; floribus instar Anemones Stellatae, petalis crassis, rigidis, colore sordide rubente; cortice aromatico.

This Shrub usually grows about eight or ten Foot high. The Leaves are set opposite to each other. The Flowers resemble, in Form, those of the Star-Anemony, compos'd of many stiff Copper-colour'd Petals, enclosing a Tuft of short yellow Stamina. The Flowers are succeded by a roundish Fruit flat at Top. The Bark is very aromatic, and as odoriferous as Cinnamon. These Trees grow in the remote and hilly Parts of Carolina, but no where amongst the Inhabitants.