McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
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H3A 0C9
Badger
European Badger
Meles meles
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 European Badger from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, Asia, and Japan.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Badger (Meles taxus)
Scientific name: Meles meles
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae. Ursus
2 Meles L.S.N p.69
Meles. ursus cauda concolore corpore
supra cinereo, subtus nigra, fascia
longitudinali per oculos auresq[ue] nigra.
Lin. Syst. nat. 48.
meles unguibus anticis longissimis
Faun suec. 15. Syst nat. 6.
meles. gesn. quad. 686.
Taxus Aldr. digit. 264. Jonst quad. t. 64
Raii quadr. 185
Habitat in Europa inter rimas rupium
& Labidum [Lapidum]
The Badger.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae. Ursus
2 Meles L.S.N p.69
Meles. ursus with a uniformally coloured tail, a body
that is ash-coloured on top, and black underneath, with a
black band running lengthwise through the eyes and ears.
Lin. Syst. nat. 48.
meles with very long nails at the front
Faun suec. 15. Syst nat. 6.
meles. gesn. quad. 686.
Taxus Aldr. digit. 264. Jonst quad. t. 64
Raii quadr. 185
It lives in Europe between the cracks of cliffs
and rocks.
The Badger.