Bahama finch, from 'Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas', by Mark Catesby (1754).
Mark Catesby's work is the most impressive record of American natural history before Audubon's 'Birds of America'.
Trained as a botanist, Catesby spent seven years in Virginia from 1712 to 1719 collecting plants and seeds and sending them back to England. In 1722 he travelled extensively across Georgia, Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas collecting further specimens.
In 'Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas' Catesby's illustrations of the flora and fauna of the Bahamas show a diverse natural world.
The Bahama finch is one of the native species that can be found in this long and narrow chain of islands.
This book featured in the 'Voices from the Commonwealth' display at the National Library of Scotland from 9 July to 7 September 2014.