McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
European Green Woodpecker, immature
Picus viridis
Cha. Collins Fect. Febry 1741
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 an immature European Green Woodpecker from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe (excluding Ireland), Turkey, and Caucausus].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Cha. Collins Fect. Febry 1741;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Picus Benghalensis Linaei an Indian Woodpecker
Scientific name: Picus viridis
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Viridis
P. viridis, vertice coccineo. L.S.N. p.113
Habitat in Europa
The Green Woodpecker
Benghalensis
Picus viridis, occipite rubro, nucha
nigra, subtus anticeque albus nigro
maculatus. L.S.N. p.113
The Crested Green Woodpecker
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Viridis
P. viridis [The green woodpecker], with a scarlet crown. L.S.N. p.113
It lives in Europe.
The Green Woodpecker
Benghalensis
Picus viridis [The green woodpecker], with a red hindhead,
black nape, and white underparts spotted with black
at the front. L.S.N. p.113
The Crested Green Woodpecker