McGill Library
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H3A 0C9
Angora Goat [male]
Domestic goat (Angora), male
Capra hircus
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm + 1 leaf
Peter Paillou was born in London into a Huguenot family and was recognised in his own time as an eminent ‘bird painter’. In 1744 he began to paint for Taylor White and worked for him for almost thirty years, painting chiefly birds and mammals. He painted as well for Robert More, Joseph Banks, and for the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant. Many of his paintings of birds were used as the basis for book illustrations, often engraved by his colleague and fellow Huguenot, Peter Mazell. Paillou was elected to the Society of Artists and in 1763 he exhibited ‘A Piece of Birds, in Watercolours; the Hen of the Wood and Cock of the Red Game’. In 1778, to considerable approval, he also showed a picture of ‘A Horned Owl from Peru’, completely made from feathers.
Drawing of a male Angora Domestic Goat from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: worldwide.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Angora Goat [male] (Capra hircus angorensis)
Manuscript note on back of drawing: from angora;
Scientific name: Capra hircus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Pecora Capra
Hircus Angorensis
L.S.N. p. 94. ed. 12o. 1 Hircus B.
C. Angorensis. Tournef. it. 2 p85 t.185. Bris.
quadr. 64. Hasselq. iter. 200. Olear. mus. t. 10. f. 2
Habitat in Oriente, in Montosis. Hircus &
capra cum Haedo, victitans ramulis variis,
frondibusq[ue] arborum Lichenibus, hospitatur in Europo [Europa].
Pecus infidum, bellicosum, saliens, salax, hircum
olens, decorticans; corio tenaci indutum, lana
caprina tectum; arunco barbatum, caseosum
pedum castratio singularis. edit etiam cicutam.
The Angora He Goat.
This goat & its Female was brought from
Angora in the year 1770 but difers intirely
from the goat next described as the angora
goat in his 2d description & of which see the
Description & fig. hereinafter No.
This animal having a beard I place among the
Goats.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Pecora Capra
Hircus Angorensis
L.S.N. p. 94. ed. 12o. 1 Hircus B.
C. Angorensis. Tournef. it. 2 p85 t.185. Bris.
quadr. 64. Hasselq. iter. 200. Olear. mus. t. 10. f. 2
It lives in the East, in the mountains. Hircus &
capra cum Haedo [Male goat & she-goat with a young goat], it feeds on a variety of shoots,
leaves of trees, and Lichen; it lives temporarily in Europe.
The animal is treacherous, and given to fighting and jumping;
it is lustful, gives off a rank smell, and scrapes away bark; it is wrapped in a strong hide,
and covered with goat wool; it is bearded like a goat, and produces cheese;
the feet have a single cleft. It even eats hemlock.
The Angora He Goat.
This goat & its Female was brought from
Angora in the year 1770 but difers intirely
from the goat next described as the angora
goat in his [second] description & of which see the
Description & fig. hereinafter No.
This animal having a beard I place among the
Goats.