Island 1

Plate 21 "Mocking Bird"

Plate 160
"Carolina Titmouse" [Carolina Chickadee]

Audubon was so greatful for the hospitality of South Carolinians during an 1836 visit that when he discovered a smaller Southern species of the black-capped chickadee, he immortalized his feelings by naming it the "carolina titmouse." He wrote,

My drawing of the Carolina Titmouse was made not far from New Orleans late in 1820. I have names it so, partly because it occus in Carolina, and partly because I was desirous of manifesting my gratitude towards the citizens of that State, who by their hospitality and polite attention have so much contributed to my comfort and happiness, whenever it has been my good fortune to be among them.

Plate 165
"Bachman's Pinewood Finch" [Bachman's Sparrow]

In April, 1832, the Reverend Dr. John Bachman, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Charleston and a close friend of Audubon, discovered a new sparrow near Parker's Ferry on the Edisto River. Audubon painted the bird on 25 June and immoralized his devotion to Bachman by naming the bird "Bachman's Pinewood-finch." Audubon stated,

In honouring so humble an object as this Finch with the name of BACHMAN, my aim is to testify the high regard in which I hold that learned and most estimable individual, to whose friendship I owe more than I can express ont his occasion.

Audubon said that the drawing represents "a male in full summer dress, which was presented to me, while yet quite fresh, by my friend Bachman." The branch of the fever-tree on which the bird is perched was drawn by Audubon's assistant George Lehman from a tree in the "beautiful botanic garden of M. Noisette, a few miles from Charleston."

Plate 183
"American Golden-Crested Kinglet" [Golden-Crest Wren, Golden-Crowned Kinglet]

Shortly before Audubon left Charleston for Florida he probably completed a drawing of the American golden-crested kinglet. He wrote that "while in the company of my friend John Bachman, I was great numbers of them in the woods near Charleston...." George Lehman drew the thalia on which the birds are perched; Audubon said he "was indebted to Mr. Noisette" for the specimen.

Plate 231
"Long-Billed Curlew"

In a letter to his wife deated 30 October 1831, Audubon wrote, "I have just finished a drawing of 2 Large Curlews," a reference to his painting of the long-billed curlew which, with the Charleston skyline in the background, is so cherished by South Carolinians. Excerpts from his description indicate that the expedition to Cole's Island was very satisfying.

The sun at length sank beneath the waterline that here formed the horizon; and we saw the birds making their first appearance. They were in small parties of two, three, or five, and by no menas shy.... But when we followed them to the Bird Banks, which are sandy islands of small extent, the moment they saw us land, the congregated flocks, probably amounting to several thousand individuals all standing close together, rose at once, performed a few revolutions in perfect silence, and re-alighted as if with one accord on the extreme margins of the sand-bank close to tremendous breakers.