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Red-whiskered Bubul
Pycnonotus jocosus
Cha. Collins Fect. March 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 pair of Red-whiskered Bubuls from 18th century specimens [modern geographical distribution: India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Australia].
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Cha. Collins Fect. March 1742;
Manuscript note on back of drawing: Sent from Bengal in the East Indies in the year 1734
Scientific name: Pycnonotus jocosus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Muscicapa
7 Emeria
Mottacilla Muscicapa grisea, subtus alba
temporibus; uropigioq[ue] rubris. L.N.S. [sic] 187
Ruticilla bengalensis Edw. p. 190
Habitat in Benghala
Capite pennas longiores solet saepe in
cristam erigere.
The Bengall Fly catcher
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Passeres Muscicapa
7 Emeria
Mottacilla Muscicapa grisea [The grey...] with white underparts,
red temples and a red rump. L.N.S. [sic] 187
Ruticilla bengalensis Edw. p. 190
It lives in Bengal.
The feathers on the head are longer, and it is often accustomed
to raise them in a crest.
The Bengall Fly catcher