The Ribbon Snake (Coluber saurita)

Catesby combined intaglio processes—etching and engraving—to achieve fine linear detail, then applied watercolor washes by hand to render the muted greens of the foliage, the deep reds of the berries, and the earthy tones of the snake’s scales. The use of laid paper provides a subtle texture that enhances the illustration’s clarity.

The image appears in Catesby’s multi‑volume Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, a work issued between 1729 and 1747. With roughly 220 plates, the publication represents the first comprehensive printed natural history of North America, and the ribbon snake print is among its zoological illustrations.

Catesby’s expedition to the American colonies in the early 18th century supplied the field observations that underlie his plates. By integrating botanical and zoological subjects within a single image, he mirrored contemporary scientific practices that sought to portray the interrelationships of species in their habitats.