Bird Head Drawings, Box 44

Can you imagine capturing the details of bird's feathering so well that bird-watchers could use your drawing to confirm their sightings of different species? A steady hand and eye for detail are essential. So are systematic standards for colors and nomenclature. These are drawings from ornithologist Robert Ridgway's personal papers. At the age of fourteen, his drawings were good enough for then Smithsonian Secretary Baird to help him identify a species near his home. Ridgway's color studies and systematic approach for naming species and coloring went on to influence zoology in North America and internationally. Help us transcribe the annotations in this box of drawings using these special instructions below.     When transcribing these drawings, begin with the number on the backing paper. It is usually in the upper left hand corner. Then go on to identify the images and the text on their pieces of paper, one image at a time. For example:   56   [[image: center]] 12053 Nyetali acadia Fort Tejon Cal. John Xantus   [[image: middle right]] 12053   [[image: lower left]] 12053   In several cases, one or more pieces of paper may obscure an image. We have included images with the papers on top rolled back so the full bottom image can be seen. When this happens, identify it like this: [[image: center, partially obscured]] or [[image: middle right, rolled back]].