Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber, and Double-forked Plexaurella, Plexaurella dichotoma

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), with Double-forked Plexaurella (Plexaurella dichotoma) in background. Plate number 73 from "The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands : containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants ; particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors" 1771 by Mark Catesby, revised by Mr Edwards, Vol 1.

Mark Catesby was an English naturalist. After two expeditions collecting in the English colonies in North America, he spent 20 years working on was what to be the first major publication on the natural history of this new frontier, The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama islands. Mark Catesby had a great interest in the connections between animals and plants, usually depicting each animal with its food plant.