John Kirk Townsend
Collector of Audubon’s Western Birds and Mammals
Hardback,
290mm x 230mm, 400 pages, approx 350 illustrations (300 in colour), 10 maps, 4
flow charts, 18 appendices and extensive bibliography.(See below for a detail of contents and sample pages.)
The Townsend story provides a unique perspective on Audubon’s famous
books. Audubon’s Black Oystercatcher (Plate CCCCXXVII of The Birds of America) is based
on specimens provided by Townsend. |
The text is enhanced by wildlife and habitat images taken by the authors
as they followed in Townsend’s footsteps. Elk were often seen by
Townsend. |
This new book is the first in-depth biography of J.K.Townsend (1809-1851) an ornithologist from Philadelphia who crossed the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River in 1834 and made two visits to the Hawaiian Islands. He returned home with a great haul of bird and mammal specimens: Townsend’s Warbler, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Townsend’s Ground Squirrel, Townsend’s Mole etc. that were used by John James Audubon in the preparation of his Birds of America and Viviparous Quadrupeds.
The heart of this book is an exciting new presentation of Townsend’s Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains, to the Columbia River, and a visit to the Sandwich Islands, Chili &c (1839). Although there have been several editions of the Narrative this version includes new material from Townsend’s original journal, is the first to be fully illustrated and the first to include Audubon paintings of the very specimens that Townsend collected.
Barbara and Richard Mearns also examine Townsend’s Quaker upbringing, track him on his journey westwards, provide a modern zoological commentary on his discoveries, trace his troubled career, and discuss his association with Audubon and the major contribution that Townsend made to his famous works.
It is essential reading for those with an interest in – early Western travels and the Oregon Trail – the wildlife of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest – the history of ornithology and the contribution of Audubon, Bachman, Nuttall and Townsend – the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the National Institute at Washington – Quaker naturalists.
“John K. Townsend was evidently a genius whom force of circumstances prevented from reaching his proper place in ornithological annals.” Witmer Stone, The Condor 1916.
Contents
| i-x | Preface and Acknowledgements. Abbreviations |
| 1-7 | Chronology |
| 9-30 | Part 1 John Kirk Townsend |
| 9-12 | 1. Townsend and Audubon – two very different characters |
| 13-24 | 2. Townsend’s early life in Philadelphia |
| 25-28 | 3. Townsend and Nuttall set off westwards |
| 29-265 | Part 2 Narrative of a Journey across the Rocky Mountains, to the Columbia River, and a visit to the Sandwich Islands, Chili, &c. by J.K. Townsend |
| 33-50 | 1. First steps to Independence |
| 51-72 | 2. Independence to Laramie’s Fork |
| 73-86 | 3. Laramie’s Fork to Green River |
| 87-98 | 4. Green River to Fort Hall |
| 99-114 | 5. Fort Hall to Boise River |
| 115-129 | 6. Across the Blue Mountains to Fort Walla Walla |
| 131-138 | 7. Fort Walla Walla to Fort Vancouver |
| 139-154 | 8. Fort Vancouver and the lower Columbia River |
| 155-173 | 9. First visit to the Hawaiian Islands, 1835 |
| 174-202 | 10. Return to the Columbia River |
| 203-237 | 11. The Columbia River, 1836 |
| 238-252 | 12. Second visit to the Hawaiian Islands, 1837 |
| 253-265 | 13. Homeward bound |
| 266-317 | Part 3 Townsend’s later life |
| 266-280 | 1. Audubon paints Townsend’s birds |
| 281-290 | 2. Townsend in Philadelphia |
| 291-306 | 3. At the National Institute |
| 307-317 | 4. Philadelphia once more |
| 318-375 | Appendices |
| 318-324 | 1. Townsend’s natural history collections |
| 325-326 | 2. New birds and mammals in the Townsend collection |
| 327 | 3. Tolmie List, 15th November 1836 |
| 328-331 | 4. Derby List. Lord Derby’s catalogue of birds, 16th June 1838 |
| 332 | 5. McEuen List. Thomas McEuen and J.K. Townsend, 25th October 1839 |
| 333-336 | 6. Townsend’s numbered catalogue of bird specimens |
| 337-349 | 7A. Birds seen and collected by Townsend and Nuttall on the overland journey from Missouri to the Pacific, the voyages between the Columbia River and the Hawaiian Islands, and Nuttall’s visit to California |
| 350-354 | 7B. Mammals seen and collected by Townsend on the overland journey from Missouri to the Pacific |
| 355-356 | 8. Where and when did Townsend collect his Swainson’s Hawks? |
| 357-359 | 9. The Columbia River bird report given by Townsend to the Rev Samuel Parker |
| 360 | 10. Townsend’s controversial seabirds |
| 361-364 | 11. Townsend’s bird specimens from the Hawaiian Islands |
| 365-366 | 12. Townsend’s bird specimens from Tahiti |
| 367-368 | 13. Townsend’s bird and mammal specimens From Chile |
| 369-370 | 14. Nuttall’s bird specimens from the West |
| 371 | 15. Audubon’s Central and South American land birds in The Birds of America |
| 372 | 16. The Edward Harris collection of birds |
| 373 | 17. Townsend’s bat Specimens from the West |
| 374-375 | 18. Townsend’s attempt to sell mammal specimens in Europe. |
| 376-383 | Bibliography |
| 384-387 | Index of birds and mammals |
| 388 | General Index |
| Maps | |
| x | 1. Townsend’s travels, 1834-37 |
| 34 | 2. St Louis to Independence, 24th March – 28th April 1834 |
| 52-53 | 3. Independence to Laramie’s Fork, 28th April – 1st June 1834 |
| 74 | 4. Laramie’s Fork to South Pass, 1st June – 14th June 1834 |
| 91 | 5. South Pass to Fort Hall, 14th June – 6th August 1834 |
| 104 | 6. Across the Sawtooth Mountains, 6th August – 24th August 1834 |
| 116 | 7. Across the Blue Mountains, 24th August – 10th September 1834 |
| 135 | 8. The Lower Columbia River, 10th September – 11th December 1834 |
| 144 | 9. Fort Vancouver and vicinity |
| 159 | 10. The Hawaiian Islands, 1834-35 & 1837 |
| 202 | 11. The Lower Columbia River, 16th April 1835 – 30th November 1836 |
Sample pages
 |
Page 108 American Pika Download as PDF document |
 |
Page 171 Back to O‘ahu Download as PDF document |
 |
Page 202 Lower Columbia River map Download as PDF document |