McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Peter Paillou Fect march 1745;
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 pair of Red Knots from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: worldwide].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Peter Paillou Fect march 1745;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: These birds were sent from Colchester and called the Godwit, but I propose improperly. I take them to be the cock & hen of the bird described by Willughby p 300 by the name of the Gambetta of Aldrovandi
Scientific name: Calidris canutus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Gambetta
Tringa rostro pedibusq[ue] rubris,
corpore luteo cinereoq[ue] variegato,
subtus albo. L.S.N. p. 148
Habitat in Europa
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Gambetta
Tringa with a red beak and feet,
a yellow and ash-coloured variegated body,
and white underparts. L.S.N. p. 148
It lives in Europe.