Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10565
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    ‘Great Brown King’s Fisher’

    Date
    1790
    Creator
    Sarah Stone (1760 - 1844, British) , Illustrator
    Object type
    Library reference
    22426
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 292mm
    width (print): 225mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Ornithology
    Biology
       > Natural history
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Ornithological study of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) native to Australia.

    Plate 2 from Journal of a voyage to New South Wales...by John White (J.Debrett, London, 1790).

    The accompanying text states that: “We not long after discovered the great brown King’s Fisher, of which a plate is annexed. This bird has been described by Mr. Latham...This bird is not uncommon in many islands of the South Seas, being pretty frequent at New Guinea...it is also an inhabitant of New Holland...”

    The plate is inscribed: “S.Stone Delin. Great Brown King’s Fisher. London. Published as the Act directs Dec: 29, 1789. By I.Debrett.”

    “The Public may rely, with the most perfect confidence, on the care and accuracy with which the Drawings have been copied from nature, by Miss Stone, Mr.Catton, Mr.Nodder, and other artists; and the Editor flatters himself the Engravings are all executed with equal correctness, by, or under the immediate inspection of Mr.Milton. The Birds, &c. from which the drawings were taken are deposited in the Leverian Museum.”
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > Australia
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