John Kirk Townsend
Collector of Audubon’s Western Birds and Mammals

(See below for a detail of contents, sample pages and reviews.)

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

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

Comments and reviews

“... a fascinating read from beginning to end, it is also a work you can happily dip into time and again.”

Leni Martin, Birdwatch (Dec 2007) 186: 57.

“What a marvellous job!  Both the writing and the illustrations are superb (including Townsend's writing which no modern person of his age could possibly duplicate).  I had, of course, read his Narrative before but it really came to life in your book. ... Thank you both for your dedication to ornithological history and so many sterling contributions to it.”

Storrs Olson, Division of Birds, Smithsonian Institution, email 18 Jan 2008.

“This grand and comprehensive biography of John Townsend is a marvellous contribution to the history of American ornithology, and is the first book to fully document the life of this highly talented but relatively little known biologist. The book also illuminates the many interactions among Townsend, Nuttall, Audubon, and other important American naturalists of the day.”

Paul A. Johnsgard, Nebraska Bird Review (June 2008) 76: 84-85.

“Many thanks for the copy of the Townsend book, which I have dipped into, but it will be quite a while before I will read it thoroughly. It looks like an absolutely magnificent piece of work. When I looked at the leaflet I thought it was a bit on the expensive side, but having seen it I realise that, if anything, it's remarkably cheap!!”

Michael Walters, author of A Concise History of Ornithology, email 2 Oct 2008.

“Yesterday's mail brought your JKT book!  And what a book!  Never in my wildest dreams could I have come up with anything so beautiful, so resourceful, so scholarly and well referenced & source cited!  It is truly magnificent!  How fortunate our family is that someone as talented as you two would be so interested in John Kirk Townsend and his life's work!”

Dana Dunbar King (descended from JK Townsend’s sister Elizabeth), email 16 Sept 2007.

“Well, simply wondrous and amazing. Thank you both so very much.  I stayed up extra late last night going over the book and now 24 hours later am just getting back to email.  Will take some time to read all, but at least I have the rich flavor.  The photos and overall layout and design are also captivating.   Amazing work and so much due diligence over so many years.”

Donald Townsend Little (descended from JK Townsend’s nephew), email 12 Sept 2007.

“It stands in marked contrast to Townsend’s original Narrative, which contained no illustrations. The lavishly produced edition by Barbara and Richard Mearns makes up for that lack, and it will be consulted by those who have an interest in the natural history dimensions of this famous classic of Western travel”

Paul Lawrence Farber, Oregon Historical Quarterly (2008) 109: 499-500.

“This latest work by Barbara and Richard Mearns is truly a visual feast. The photographs and the skilful design of the book are among its greatest virtues; rarely has an apparent biography been filled with such lovely images ... The work contains a number of items useful to professional ornithologists. Not only do the appendices detail every species collected by Townsend, but a series of flow charts (Figures 1–3 in Appendix 1) diagrams the dispersal of Townsend’s bird collection in the United States and Europe and notes the paths and current locations of specimens held by individuals and institutions. The authors also allow Townsend’s own voice to be heard via extensive quotes from his journals and letters. They clearly pursued the topic with passion and complete dedication ... “

Daniel Lewis, The Ibis (2008) 150: 428.