McGill Library
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Common Indian Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis
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 trio of Green Bee-eaters from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: West Africa, East Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Common Indian Bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Merops viridis Linaei; Merops bengalensis Edwards; from bengal; The bamboo bird Certhia
Scientific name: Merops orientalis
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Viridis.
M. dorso ferrugineo, abdomine alisque
viridibus, gula caudaque caeruleis. L.S.N. p.117
Habitat in Benghala
The Bamboo Bird
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Viridis.
M. with a reddish-brown back, green abdomen and wings,
and a blue throat and tail. L.S.N. p.117
It lives in Bengal.
The Bamboo Bird