Artist/Maker John James Audubon (1785 – 1851)

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena), Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla), and Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), Havell pl. nos. 390, 394, and 398

1834-37

Watercolor, graphite, pastel, and black chalk with touches of black ink and gouache on paper (creased) laid on card

Mat: 29 x 23 in. (73.7 x 58.4 cm)
Sheet (paper): 21 7/16 × 14 15/16 in. (54.5 × 37.9 cm)

Purchased for the Society by public subscription from Mrs. John J. Audubon

1863.17.394

DescriptionFrom upper center: Lazuli Bunting, male; Chestnut-collared Longspur, male; Lark Sparrow, adult; Golden-crowned Sparrow, male; Towhee, male and female. For Havell plate no. 394, the Lark Sparrow was omitted, and a Black-headed Siskin (Spinus notata) was inserted at upper left from watercolor 1863.17.400.

InscribedInscribed in lower register of paper in brown ink at lower left: "No 76. / Plate / 379."; to the right: "1, 2. Arctic ground Finch. / Fringilla arctica"; at lower left of center: "3 Black and Yellow crowned Finch. / [in graphite erased "Emberiza"] atricapilla, Gmel."; at lower right of center: "4. Townsend's Finch Male[inserted] -- / F. Townsendii, Aud."; below: "6. Chesnut collared Finch, Male. -- / Fringilla ornata. Townsend. --"; below: "7. Lazuli Finch, Male. / Fringilla amoena, Say. ---"; at lower right: "5. Lark Finch, male. / Fringilla grammaca, Say."; below[all crossed out]: "9. Townsend : Finch Male / F. Townsendii Aud" Inscribed in upper section in graphite at upper left: "79 / 4 / 80 / 398"; to right at upper center: "7. Lazuli Finch -- / Male -- C. River June 22d -- 1835 -- / 2d quill longest --"; below to right: "Plectophanes ornata, Townsend -- / Chesnut collared Finch -- / Platte River -- / Male May 28th 1834 -- / 6. / 1st quill longest -- / under wing covert / very pale buff --"; below to left: "No. 1 --"; at middle right: "5. / Fringilla Gramaca, Bonap. -- / Platte River / Male May 20th 1834 --"; below: "X Townsend[?]"; at right of center: "No 2 -- Plate 193. / Female May 12th 1835, / Columbia River"; below at center: "In a Specimen of a Young Male / of this Kind, the Yellow Predominates over the / Whole of the head, Joining the upper parts of the / eyes. And I suppose that these parts are bright / in the adult, and more especially during the / breeding Season, as in the case in the White / throated Sparrow. -- / Length of Wing -- 3 1/8 Inches --- / Length of Tail -- 3 3/8 Do. / third quill the longest and the 2d subiqual. / Tail rounded -- The bill in the Young Male / has the lower mandible Cinnamon Coloured"; at lower left: "Plate / 194"; at lower right[erased]: "Black... / Emberiza..."; below: "No 4 / Plate 194"; birds numbered in brown ink from lower right to upper left: "1"; "2"; "3"; "4"; for unsketched birds to be added: "7"; "6"; "5"; at upper right corner: "394"; horizontal and vertical margin lines sketched in graphite; erased inscriptions throughout

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