Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.12531

    Indigobird and pytelia

    Date
    1884
    Creator
    Joseph Smit (1836 - 1929, Dutch) , Illustrator
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 251mm
    width (print): 154mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Ornithology
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Zoological studies of two birds. Figure 1: probably the Village indigobird Vidua chalybeata (here styled Vidua spendens). Figure 2: the Orange-winged pytelia Pytelia afra (here styled Pytelia wieneri). The birds, native to Africa, are shown on a tree-branch with a third, long-tailed vidua bird behind.

    Plate 7 in The collected scientific papers of the late William Alexander Forbes, edited by F.E. Beddard (London, R.H. Porter, 1885). Originally published as ‘On two rare ploceine birds now or lately living in the Society’s menagerie’, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 18880, pp.475-477.

    Inscribed with the signature ‘J.Smit’ on the plate. Inscribed above ‘Pl. VII. P.Z.S. 1880 Pl.XLVII.’ Inscribed below: ‘J.Smit lith. Hanhart imp’. A key to the figures appears below.

    William Alexander Forbes (1855-1883) British zoologist travelled to Brazil, and West Africa where he died.
    Associated place
    Powered by CollectionsIndex+/CollectionsOnline