McGill Library
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H3A 0C9
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
Cha. Collins Fect. May 1742
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 possible Ocelot from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Central America and South America].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Cha. Collins Fect. May 1742
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Catus onceus striatus
Scientific name: Leopardus pardalis
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Catus Oncaeus Striatus
Felis corpore longitudinaliter
striatus maculis fuscis in
marginibus nigris cauda &
parte inferiore abidis [albidis]. nigro
maculatis.
The Tyger Cat
or
The Striped Ounce Cat.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Mammalia Ferae Felis
Catus Oncaeus Striatus [The Striped...]
Felis, furrowed with tawny patches
with black borders
the length of the body; with a white tail and
white underparts, with black
patches.
The Tyger Cat
or
The Striped Ounce Cat.