McGill Library
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Nightjar
Eurasian Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
Char.l 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 Eurasian Nightjar from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Central Asia, and the Middle East].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Nightjar (Caprimulgus europeus) Char.l Collins Fect. 1737;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: The Fen Owl; Churn Owl or Goatsucker; caprimulgus W. 107
Scientific name: Caprimulgus europaeus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Caprimulgus Europaeus
Caprimulgus narium tubis obsoletis
L.S.N. p. 193
Habitat in Europa
The Goatsucker
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Caprimulgus Europaeus
Caprimulgus with hidden tubular nares.
L.S.N. p. 193
It lives in Europe.
The Goatsucker