McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Great-crested Grebe
Great-crested Grebe, breeding plumage
Podiceps cristatus
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-crested Grebe with breeding plumage from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, Asia, Southern Africa, Eastern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Great-crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Charl. Collins Fect 1738;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Greater Crested or Horned Doucker W. 340. This Bird was shot in Shropshire at a lake called Aquilet Meier. I think there called Adam & Eve.
Scientific name: Podiceps cristatus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Cristatus
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Cristatus