McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Roller
European Roller
Coracias garrulus
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 European Roller from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East, and Central Asia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Roller (Coracius garrulus)
Scientific name: Coracias garrulus
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Picae Coracias
Coracias
Garrulus 1. Coracias caerulea. Dorso rubro
remigibus nigris. L.S.N. p.107
Corvus dorso sanguineo, remigibus
nigris, rectricibus viridibus L. Faun.
Suec. 73
Garulus Argentoraterris, Rai. av. 109 4
Ed: av. 109. T. 109
Habitat in Europa.
The Roller or Rolander
This Bird was killed in Corwall &
given me by my Learned friend Mr Brunick
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Aves Picae Coracias
Coracias
Garrulus 1. Coracias caerulea. [The blue...] with a red back and black flight feathers on the wings. L.S.N. p.107
The corvus with a blood-red back, black flight feathers
on the wings, and green flight feathers on the tail. L. Faun. Suec. 73
Garulus Argentoraterris, Rai. av. 109 4
Ed: av. 109. T. 109
It lives in Europe.
The Roller or Rolander
This Bird was killed in Cor[n]wall &
given me by my Learned friend Mr Brunick