McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Lynx
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
Item
1 watercolour painting ; 56 x 39 cm + 1 leaf
Peter Paillou was born in London into a Huguenot family and was recognised in his own time as an eminent ‘bird painter’. In 1744 he began to paint for Taylor White and worked for him for almost thirty years, painting chiefly birds and mammals. He painted as well for Robert More, Joseph Banks, and for the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant. Many of his paintings of birds were used as the basis for book illustrations, often engraved by his colleague and fellow Huguenot, Peter Mazell. Paillou was elected to the Society of Artists and in 1763 he exhibited ‘A Piece of Birds, in Watercolours; the Hen of the Wood and Cock of the Red Game’. In 1778, to considerable approval, he also showed a picture of ‘A Horned Owl from Peru’, completely made from feathers.
Drawing of a Eurasian Lynx from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Lynx (Lyneus borealis)
Scientific name: Lynx lynx
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Lynx.
Felis Cauda abreviata; apice atra
auriculis apice barbatis. Faun.
Sues. [sic] 10
felis cauda truncata, colore rufescente
maculato. faun. suec n 4. It wgoth 222
Lynx cervarius Gesn quad. 677.
Tourn it. 2. p. 185
Lynx Aldrov. dig. 90. Jonst. quad.
82 t 71. Raii Quad. 166.
habitat in Europae & Canada sylvis.
& desertis. arbores inhabitat;
martes venatur, victitat leporibus,
capris Ovibus. aspiciendo Canem
globo efiditur [perfoditur] L.S.N. p. 65. nov. ed
ubi v. descriptio
The Lynx
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Lynx.
Felis with a shortened tail with a black tip,
and ears with tufted tips. Faun.
Sues. [sic] 10
Felis with a shortened tail, and spotted
reddish colouring. faun. suec n 4. It wgoth 222
Lynx cervarius Gesn quad 677.
Tourn it. 2. p. 185
Lynx Aldrov. dig. 90. Jonst. quad.
82 t 71. Raii Quad. 166.
It lives in forests and deserts
in Europe and Canada, it dwells in trees;
it hunts martens, it feeds on hares,
goats, and sheep. When it sees a dog
in a pack, it is transfixed L.S.N. p. 65. nov. ed
where [there is] description
The Lynx