McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
House-Sparrow
House Sparrow, male and female
Passer domesticus
Char. Collins Fect. 1737;
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 pair of male and female House Sparrows from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: worldwide].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: House-Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Char. Collins Fect. 1737;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The House Sparrow. Passer domesticus. Aldrov. W. p. 249
Scientific name: Passer domesticus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Fringilla
Domestica
36 Fringilla remigibus rectric-
-ibusq[ue] fuscis, corpore griseo
nigroq[ue], fascia alarum alba
solitaria. L.N.S. [sic] p. 183.
The House Sparow.
W. orn. p.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Fringilla
Domestica
36 Fringilla with tawny flight feathers on the wings
and tail, a grey and black body, and
a single white band
on the wings. L.N.S.[sic] p. 183.
The House Spar[r]ow.
W. orn. p.