Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10568
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    ‘Wattled Bee Eater’

    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 male Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), native to Australia.

    Plate 6 from Journal of a voyage to New South Wales...by John White (J.Debrett, London, 1790).

    The accompanying text states that: “The Wattled Bee-eater...is the size of a missel thrush...under the eye, on each side, is a kind of wattle, of an orange colour; the middle of the belly is yellow; the tail is wedge-shaped...Thi sbird seems to be peculiar to New Holland, and is undoubtedly a species which has not hitherto been described.”

    The plate is inscribed: “S.Stone Delin. Wattled Bee Eater. 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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