McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Common Rabbit
European Rabbit, Common Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
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 Rabbit--also known as a Common Rabbit--from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, the Untied States, Australia, South America, and Southern Africa.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Common Rabbit (Lepus cuniculus)
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Lepus cuniculus 2, cauda abbreviate cuniculus nudatus Linnei (Mar)
Scientific name: Oryctolagus cuniculus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Glires Cuniculus
Anglicanus L.S.N. 77. e.n.
cauda abreviata [abbreviata], auriculis
nudatis L. fau. suec. 26
Gesn. quad. 72. Aldr. digit. 382.
Jonst. quad. t 65. Raii Quad 205.
Lipus [Lepus] caudatus pilis tenuissimis
& longissimis toto corpore vestitus Briss.
quad. 141.
Habitat in Europa australi, Anglia.
hic guaidet [gaudet] in effossis habibitare [habitare]
cuniculis antris arenosis. Praedatur
Falconibus. Mele. Putorio &c.
The Comon English Rabbit
Vol 6 N 5
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Glires Cuniculus
Anglicanus L.S.N. 77. e.n.
with a shortened tail, and
bare ears. L. fau. suec. 26
Gesn. quad. 72. Aldr. digit. 382.
Jonst. quad. t 65. Raii Quad 205.
Lepus caudatus [Tailed rabbit] with the whole body
covered in very fine and very long hair. Briss.
quad. 141.
It lives in southern Europe, and England.
It likes to live in sandy dug-out
underground hollows. It is caught
by falcons, the marten, the polecat, etc.
The Comon English Rabbit
Vol 6 N 5