Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10039
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    ‘The Red-breasted Green Creeper, and the Spotted Green Creeper, &c.’

    Date
    1761
    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
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Ornithological studies of a Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer from South Africa (figure 1), with a second, unidentified West Indian bird (figure 2). Both are on low branches and are shown with a fly [‘Blue Hairy Fly’] and a stick insect [‘Walking Stick’].

    Plate 347 from chapter 137 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 3 (London, for the author, 1764). The author describes the creatures within the text: “Fig. 1 was brought from the Cape of Good Hope by Governor Loten, and is now lodged in the British Museum. Fig. 2 is in the cabinet of the Right Honourable Lady Lyttelton, who obliged me with a sight of it, and told me it was brought from the West-Indies. Fig. 3 and Fig.4 were sent to me by my ever-obliging friend Frank Nicholls, F.R.S. Physician in Ordinary to the late King; who informed me that they were sent to him by Colonel Charles Price, of the Island of Jamaica.”

    The plate is inscribed: “Fig.1 is from the Cape of good hope. 2, 3 and 4 are from the West Indies, all drawn from life of their natural size. G.Edwards Delin et Sculp December 29 AD 1760” [date reversed].
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Africa
          > South Africa
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