McGill Library
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Great Auk
Great Auk
Pinguinus impennis
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 Great Auk from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: now believed to be extinct].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Great Auk (Alca impennis) Charl. Collins Fect. 1738;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Penguin W. 322
Scientific name: Pinguinus impennis
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Alca
Impennis
3 A. rostro compresso.- ancipiti
sulcato, macula ovata utrinque
ante oculos. L.N.S. [sic] p. 130
Habitat in Europa arctica
The Penguin.
Will. p. 322
No. 11.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Anseres Alca
Impennis
3 A. with a compressed, double-edged, grooved beak,
and an egg-shaped patch on either side [of the face]
in front of the eyes. L.N.S. [sic] p. 130
It lives in arctic Europe.
The Penguin.
Will. p. 322
No. 11.