McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Eastern Green Heron
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Charl. Collins Fect 1738;
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 Green Heron from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and Northern South America].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Eastern Green Heron (Butorides virescens) Charl. Collins Fect 1738;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: a small copper coloured Heron from Maryland described by Catesby who calls it a Bittern. 2. If it differs from the small brasilian Heron of Margrave Willoughby 285
Scientific name: Butorides virescens
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Virescens.
Ardea; occipite subcrisctato [subcristato], dorso
viridi pectore rubescente. L.S.N. p. 144
The
Copper Coloured
Heron
Ardea virescens.
Linn: Syst: Natur: 144. 15.
Avis ex Granadilla differt a caroliniana quod
Collum canescat et quod remiges apice
albae. An Sexus varietas?
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Virescens.
Ardea; with a somewhat crested hindhead, green back,
and red breast. L.S.N. p. 144
The
Copper Coloured
Heron
Ardea virescens.
Linn: Syst: Natur: 144. 15.
The bird from Granadilla differs from the Carolina bird
by the white neck and by the white-tipped flight feathers on the
wings. Or is this a difference of sex?