Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.17558

    ‘Abyssinian plant-cutter’

    Date
    1802
    Creator
    John Latham (1740 - 1837, British) , Naturalist
    Object type
    Library reference
    48050
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 242mm
    width (print): 180mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Ornithology
    Biology
       > Natural history
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Ornithological study of the Black-billed barbet (Lybius guifsobalito) a bird native to Africa. Shown perched on a low tree branch.

    Plate 133 from the Supplement. II. to the general synopsis of birds, by John Latham (London, Leigh, Sotheby & Son, 1802). The plate is inscribed above ‘Pl. CXXXIII.’; and below ‘Abyssinian Plant-cutter. Publish’d as the Act directs May 30, 1801, by Leigh, Sotheby & Son, York Street, Covent Garden.’

    In the associated description, the author states: ‘This is the description given by M.Daudin, from a drawing sent him figures from a Nubian specimen: it seems to differ a little from that described by Buffon…M.Buffon described his from Mr. Bruce’s drawings done in Abyssinia, where it is said to be a solitary species, living on the kernels of almonds, the shells of which it easily breaks with the bill.‘

    John Latham (1740-1837) British surgeon and naturalist, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1775.
    Associated place
    Powered by CollectionsIndex+/CollectionsOnline