McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Black-headed Caique
Black-capped Parrot
Pionites melanocephalus
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 Black-capped Parrot from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: the Neotropics.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Black-headed Caique (Caica melanocephala) Melano Capahlus Ps. Br. L.S.N.
Scientific name: Pionites melanocephalus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Melano Caephalus
33 Ps: Brachyurus Viridis Pileo nigro
pectore Albo. L.S.N: p.102
Habitat in Mexico
The Black Headed Parrot
with a White Breast.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Melano Caephalus
Ps: Brachyurus Viridis [The black-headed green parrot] with a black cap and white chest.
L.S.N: p.102
It lives in Mexico
The Black Headed Parrot
with a White Breast