ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Bonn zoological Bulletin - früher Bonner Zoologische Beiträge. Jahr/Year: 2004 Band/Volume: 52 Autor(en)/Author(s): Adler Kraig Artikel/Article: America's First Herpetological Expedition: William Bartram's Travels in Southeastern United States (1773-1776) 275-295 © Biodiversity Heritage Library, http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/; www.zoologicalbulletin.de; www.biologiezentrum.at Bonner zoologische Beiträge Band 52 (2003) Heft 3/4 Seiten 275-295 Bonn, November 2004 America's First Herpetological Expedition: William Bartram's Travels in Southeastern United States (1773-1776) Kraig Adler Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. Abstract. William Bartram (1739-1823), author of the epic Travels Through North & South Carolina. Georgia, East & West Florida (1791), was the first native-born American naturalist to gain international recognition. He was trained by his father - John Bartram, King George Ill's "Royal Botanist in North America" - who took him on his first ex- pedition at the age of 14. Although William, too, was primarily a botanist, he developed a special interst in turtles. He visited Florida in 1765-1767 and North Carolina in 1761-1762 and 1770-1772. William Bartram's expedition of 1773-1776, through eight southeastern colonies, was undertaken with the patronage of British sponsors. It began on the eve of America's War of Independence but, when the Revolutionary War com- menced in 1775, it became America's first herpetological (and natural history) survey. At least 40 different kinds of amphibians and reptiles are recorded in "Bartram's Travels", most of them identifiable to species. Bartram applied Latin names to only two of them (both turtles) but since the nomenclature used in his Travels was not uniformly binominal, his authorship is not accepted today for any scientific names. Nevertheless, early naturalists (F.-M. Daudin, C. S. Raffnesque, J. G. SCHNEIDER) based new species names on Bartram's descriptions, of which two are valid today (Gopherus polyphenms, Pituophis melanoleiicus). Bartram's most famous herpetological observations were on the alligator, a species then largely unknown to natural- ists in America and Europe. Although his descriptions of this animal's behavior were regarded as exaggerated and even incredulous by later writers, Bartram's notes are more credible today, now that the complex social behavior of alliga- tors has become known. This paper reproduces many previously unpublished BARTRAM drawings of amphibians and reptiles. Key words. Amphibians, reptiles, drawings, history of herpetology eastern United States. 1. INTRODUCTION FOTHERGILL - who wished to introduce new ornamental plants to the British Isles. William was encouraged and William Bartram (1739-1823) (Fig. 1), author of the educated in natural history pursuits, including the draw- epic Travels Through North & South Carolina, Geor- ing of natural history objects, by Collinson and gia, East & West Florida . (1791) which is widely FOTHERGILL. known today as "Bartram's Travels'", was the first na- William accompanied his father on two expeditions (to tive-born American naturalist to receive international the Catskill Mountains of New York in 1753 and to East recognition. BARTRAM was not a herpetologist, of Florida in 1765-1767) and spent extended periods with course, because no one was so narrowly speciahzed be- an uncle in North Carolina (1761-1762, 1770-1772). The fore the 20th century. He made well-known contribu- practical experience gained during these trips and an ap- tions to literature and to ethnology, but we will deal prenticeship at his father's botanical garden in Philadel- here with the importance and accuracy of his natural phia were put to good use during his celebrated travels history observations, specifically those on amphibians during 1773-1776 through eight southeastern colonies, and reptiles, which were made during a lifetime of ex- later states (Fig. 2), begun on the eve of America's War ploration in eastern North America. First and foremost, of Independence. After the American Declaration of In- Bartram was a botanist, especially a horticulturalist, dependence and while BARTRAM was already in the field, but he was a keen ornithologist as well and, beginning his expedition forthwith became an American one, but as a boy, he had a special interest in turtles. ironically it was funded by his English patrons. Bar- Bartram was trained largely by his father, John BAR- tram's Travels, first published in Philadelphia in 1791, TRAM, an American horticulturist once called the was the most widely-read contemporary account of "greatest natural botanist in the world" by Carl LIN- America and is primarily a work of literature and of his- NAEUS. His Majesty King GEORGE III appointed him tory, but it contains numerous observations on plants and "Royal Botanist in North America", in order to explore animals. It provides the focus for the present analysis of the natural products of the king's dominions there. In his herpetological acumen. There were also editions of actual fact, John was supported by several English the book published in London and Dublin and transla- patrons - among them Peter COLLINSON and John tions into French, German, and Dutch. © Biodiversity Heritage Library, http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/; www.zoologicalbulletin.de; www.biologiezentrum.at 276 Bonner zoologische Beiträge 52 (2004) not widely accepted for another generation more. Leg- less lizards were, not surprisingly, regarded as a kind of serpent. Bartram was not a taxonomist, and the group- ings used in his published works simply reflect the commonplace acceptance in America of classifications developed by Europeans (ADLER 1978). The significance of Bartram's observations, especially their influence on his contemporaries and successors, is a complicated matter. When his Travels was published, its contents were widely accepted; after all, America was a largely unexplored wilderness and there was litfle else with which to compare Bartram's veracity. Wil- liam WiNTERBOTHAM, in his account of the reptiles and amphibians of America (1796), listed many of the frogs, lizards, and snakes apparently on Bartram's authority and extracted a large section about the alligator from his Travels. Later authors made occasional reference to Bartram's work, including John Edwards Holbrook in the two editions of his great North American Herpe- tology (1836-1840, 1842), but thereafter, citations waned. This resulted from two primary reasons. Later writers, particularly Holbrook, had provided more comprehensive and authoritative accounts of the Eastern species of amphibians and reptiles. Perhaps equally im- portant, there was a growing consensus that Bartram's observations were flawed. Specific accusations (and evaluations) are discussed below, but criticism was pri- Fig. 1: William Bartram (1739-1823). Bartram was not a marily directed at Bartram's lengthy report on the al- herpetologist per se, but he conducted the first extensive her- ligator. True (1893) remarked that Bartram's "de- petological survey in southeastern United States, coincident scription [of the alligator] seems overdrawn" and that with his primarily botanical work. his recollection of the animal's voice was "most evident hyperbole!" Even Holbrook (1840, vol. 4, p. Bartram's observations and drawings of amphibians 15), while praising Bartram's honesty, saw fit to call and reptiles have had mixed reviews over time but de- him a "somewhat overcredulous naturalist". Later au- serve wider recognition, both for their insight into life thors were less sparing in their criticism. For example, histories and the fact that they provided the first rea- Kellogg (1929), referring to Bartram's claim as to sonably detailed information on the herpetofauna of the maximum length which alligators attain, said "The southeastern United States. Of necessity, one must accumulated testimony of travelers and naturalists does evaluate Bartram's contributions against the contem- not support Bartram's statemenf '. porary state of knowledge in herpetology. Not a single scientific paper or book on amphibians or reptiles had Yet Bartram's good reputation has survived these and yet been published in America. The first Linnaean cata- other criticisms; indeed, his work deserves greater rec- logue of North American animals - that is, in the bino- ognition and acceptance. Although he unquestionably mial system introduced by Carl LINNAEUS - was pub- made occasional errors in his observations of amphibi- lished by John R. FÖRSTER in 1771 in London, shortly ans and reptiles and in interpretations of their habits, it before Bartram departed for the Southeast. FORSTER's is also equally true that biologists had largely underes- list of reptiles occupies a scant three pages; there are no timated what a complex life history the alligator has. descriptions provided and even references to illustra- The most detailed modern account of the alligator's tions in Catesby, Edwards, or Pennant are given for habits (MclLHENNY 1935) received a similarly disbe- only 17 of the 56 species listed. At that time, reptiles lieving reception, but there is now, finally, acceptance were not separated taxonomically from amphibians, of the fact that crocodilians possess the most compli- and, together, these two groups comprised the Class cated behaviors of all living reptiles