Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.17560

    ‘Esculent swallow with the nest’

    Date
    1802
    Creator
    John Latham (1740 - 1837, British) , Naturalist
    Object type
    Library reference
    48050
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 242mm
    width (print): 180mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Ornithology
    Biology
       > Natural history
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Ornithological study of a swiftlet from the genus Aerodramus, the cave-nesting birds ranging from southern Asia and Australia, possibly the Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus). The illustration also shows a specimen of the edible nest. Both are presented on an outcrop of rock.

    Plate 135 from the Supplement. II. to the general synopsis of birds, by John Latham (London, Leigh, Sotheby & Son, 1802). The plate is inscribed above ‘Pl. CXXXV.’; and below ‘Esculent Swallow with the Nest. Publish’d as the Act directs May 30, 1801, by Leigh, Sotheby & Son, York Street, Covent Garden.’

    In the associated description, the author states: ‘The specimen from which the figure is taken, is now with its young in my collection, presented to me by Sir Joseph Banks, having been sent to him from Sumatra. I have also been enabled to give a figure of the nest, being not only furnished with an accurate drawing of one, but likewise the nest itself, from Mr. Hay, junior, of Portsea.‘

    John Latham (1740-1837) British surgeon and naturalist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1775.
    Associated place
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