McGill Library
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Sûrs Crane
Sarus Crane
Antigone antigone
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 Sarus Crane from a 18th century specimen [modern geographical distribution: India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.] Attributed to Peter Paillou.
Manuscript note on front of drawing: Sûrs Crane (Megalornis antigone)
Scientific name: Antigone antigone
With manuscript text on accompanying leaf.
Transcription of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Ardea
Antigone
Ardea. Capite nudo collari papiloso [papilloso], corpore
cinereo, Remigibus nigris. L.S.N. p. 142
Grus major Indica. Edw. av. 45.
Habitat in Asia.
pone oculos macula parva Alba & vertex Albus
*** Ciconiae
The Cyrus.
Translation of manuscript note on accompanying leaf: Ardea
Antigone
Ardea. with a bare head, pimpled collar, ash-coloured
body, and black flight feathers on the wings. L.S.N. p. 142
Grus major Indica. Edw. av. 45.
It lives in Asia.
There is a small white patch behind the eyes and the crown is white.
***Ciconiae
The Cyrus