McGill Library
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Dotterel
Eurasian Dotterel
Charadrius morinellus
P. Paillou Fect. May 1745;
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 pair of Eurasian Dotterels from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Dotterel (Eudromius morinellus) P. Paillou Fect. May 1745;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Dottrel
Scientific name: Charadrius morinellus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Morinellus
Charadrius pectore ferrugineo,
fuscia [fascia] superciliorum pectorisq[ue]
lineari alba, pedibus nigris
L.S.N. p. 150
Habitat in Europa
The Dottrel
No. 19.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Morinellus
Charadrius with a reddish-brown breast,
a white eyebrow stripe, and white line on the breast,
and black feet.
L.S.N. p. 150
It lives in Europe.
The Dottrel
No. 19.