The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-09

he was also confronted with the diff.
ncuIty, in many instances. of having
70 dsslsn names to unknown plants
II animals. IN which case he either
USED the indian names by which
tney were known or named them after
tae european species which they mos,
r~esenDied He speaks thus Of his
a method of work: In designing
ne plants: 1 always did them while
tresh and just gathered; and the
ANIMALS. particularly the bird, 1 paint
ed while alive Except a very few,
ana gave them their gestures peculiar
to every kind Of birds. and where
&c could be admitted, I have adapted
the birds to those plants on which
they fed, or have any relation to.
fisn, which do not retain their colours
"hen out OF their element. I painted
at olnerent times. Reptiles will live
many months without sustinanee: SO
that l had no difficulty in painting
Them while living"
his description OF the soil, climate
and inhabitants, he frankly attributes
to Lawson in so far as Lawson's work
conceded with his observations and
nl1ed MS requirements. In speaking
or this Indebtedness he makes the
following interesting remark concern
Ing u first historian:
M Lawson, in his account Of
Carolina, printed Ammo TIA, has given
a curious sketch of the natural dis
positions, customs, etc. of these say
ages. AS + had the same opportunities
or attestlng that authors account as
he had in writing it. l shall take the
liberty to select from him what is
most material. which otherwise I
could not nave omitted from my own
I cannot but here lament
the hard fate Of this inquisitive
traveller. who, though partial in his
favorable opinion of these Barbarians.
died byp their bloody hands, for hey
roasted him alive in revenge for in
juries they pretended to have received
from him"
The work. as has been indicated,
was considered OF great value and
was run through one German and
three Engfish-French editions by
17I4. While it would be Of interest
TO compare it at length with the
works Of Lawson and Brickel with
which it was practically contempt
~raneous, it will suffice to say that UNI
like Brickell, who borrowed without
Acknowledgement from Lawson, the
author gave due credit to all from
whom he had received aid, and that
scientifically and by reason of its
splendid illustrations and map, it is
by far the best OF the three publica-
tons. The works Of the other two.
il l may draw upon the descriptions
Of them given by DR.. Stephen b.
Weeks in his libraries and literature
in North Carolina in the eighteenth
century, We're those of a traveller and
physician respectively. Lawson was
a gentleman out to follow the bent Of
his inclinatiOns as a traveller and OBJ
server. His work is consequently
sketchy and loose. Brickell, a train
ed physician. brought more scientific
knowledge to bear upon his work
and ave better arrangement to his
observations. Catesby, though admit
ting his Indebtedness to Lawson as
indicated, was indebted neither to him
nor to any one else for the descrip-
tons Of The specimens brought out in
the 220 plates: and in addition to
having carried out the work accord
Ing to a plan conceived by his own
scientifically trained mind. he was
fortunate in having at his command
the aid and judgment of the leading
scientists Of his time.
The works of these three authors,
writing in the first half of the
eighteenth century, and Of William
Bartram, traveller and botanist, in the
second half, offer the student Of early
Carolina natural history, especially
zoology and botany. N exceptionally
rich store Of material. h University
library is fortunate in possessing
copies (not necessarily first editions)
of them all, and through them can
lrender students of these subjects a
valuable service.
Eaa-Q0-UP