McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
British Blue Titmouse
Eurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Char. Collins Fect. 1739;
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm + 1 leaf
Charles Collins was an Irish painter, known for his portraits of animals and still-lifes. He achieved success in England painting exotic birds, game, dogs and dead game still-lifes. He was the painter for Robert Furber’s ‘Twelve Months of Fruit’ (1732). In 1736 he published in collaboration with John Lee a set of 12 large engravings, coloured by hand, of British birds in landscape and garden settings, entitled Icones avium cum nominibus anglicis. He then came to the attention of Taylor White, who engaged him to paint birds from his and others’ collections until 1743. Collins died in 1744, when he was described as ‘Bird Painter to the Royal Society.’
Drawing of a pair of Eurasian Blue Tits from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Europe and the Middle East].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: British Blue Titmouse (Parus coeruleus obscurus) Char. Collins Fect. 1739;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Blue Titmouse or Nun Parus caeruleus W. 242
Scientific name: Cyanistes caeruleus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Parus
Caeruleus
Parus remigibus caerulescentibus:
primoribus margine exteriore albis,
fronte alba, vertice caeruleo. L.S.N. p. 190
Habitat in Europa
The Blue Titmouse
or
Nun
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Parus
Caeruleus
Parus with blue flight feathers on the wings, and
primary feathers with white outer edges,
a white forehead, and a blue crown. L.S.N. p. 190
It lives in Europe.
The Blue Titmouse
or
Nun