Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.13568

    Gang-gang cockatoo

    Date
    1803
    Creator
    Samuel John Neele (1753 - 1824, British) , Engraver
    After
    Thomas Davies (1727, British) , Draughtsman
    Object type
    Library reference
    RCN42189
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 272mm
    width (print): 215mm
    Subject
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Ornithological study of the Gang-gang cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum, described here as the Fringe crested cockatoo Psittacus fimbriatus. The bird, a native of Australia, is shown perched on a low-lying branch.

    Plate 2 from the book The narrative of a discovery…performed in his Majesty’s vessel the Lady Nelson…to New South Wales, by James Grant (London, for T. Egerton, 1803).

    The plate is inscribed below: ‘PSITTACUS FIMBRIATUS FRINGE CRESTED COCKATOO. From New South Wales in the Museum of Major General Davies, to whom this plate is respectfully inscribed by James Grant, Lieutenant Royal Navy. S.I.Neele sc. 352 Strand. Published July 1st 1803 by T. Egerton, Whitehall.’

    The accompanying text states that: ‘we were fortunate enough however to fall in with some rare and uncommon cockatoos, one of which Mr. Barreillier shot, and a faithful representation of it will be found in the annexed Plate, after a design from the elegant pencil of Major-General Davies of the Royal Artillery, to whom Governor King presented the preserved specimen.’

    Thomas Davies (c.1737-1812) British army officer and naturalist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1781.
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > Australia
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