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Pied Myna
Asian Pied Starling
Gracupica contra
Cha. Collins Fect. Janry 1741
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 an Asian Pied Starling from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: India and Southeast Asia].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Pied Myna (Sturnopastor contra) Cha. Collins Fect. Janry 1741
Scientific name: Gracupica contra
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Sturnus
4 Contra
4 S: fuscus macula oculari fascia
alori [alari] abdonineque [abdomineque] albis.
L.S.N. p167
Habitat in India
The Black and White
Benghall Starling
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Sturnus
4 Contra
4 S: fuscus [The tawny...] with a white patch near the eye,
a white band on the wings and a white abdomen.
L.S.N. p167
It lives in India.
The Black and White
Benghall Starling