Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10000
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    ‘Crested or Coped Black Vulture, and the Black and White Indian Snake’

    Date
    1757
    Creator
    George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
    Object type
    Library reference
    38029
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 288mm
    width (print): 220mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Ornithology
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Herpetology
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    nature
       > animal
          > snake
    Description
    Zoological study of a Cinerous vulture Aegypius monachus with a specimen of Asian snake.

    Plate 290 from chapter 80 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 2 (London, for the author, 1760). The author describes both animals within the text: “The Vulture is a very large bird, exceeding the size of a common Eagle by a third part...The Vulture was shewn in London (anno 1757) amongst other Birds and Beasts of Prey. I could get no account of what country it was, except from its keeper, who said it was brought from the Deserts of Arabia: but there is no depending on their words...The Snake was brought from the East Indies; but from what particular part I cannot tell. It is the property of Mr. Scalter, Druggist, in Newgate-street, London...”

    The plate is inscribed: “The crested or coped black Vulture, and the Black and white Indian Snake boath drawn from lie, by G. Edwards,” A second, mirrored inscription provides the date “October 7 AD 1757.”
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Asia
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