Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9979
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‘The Red-beaked Toucan’
Date
1754
Creator
George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
Object type
Library reference
38029
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 286mm
width (print): 220mm
width (print): 220mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Ornithological study of a toucan, probably the White-throated Toucan Ramphastos tucanus from Central and South America, shown perched on a low tree branch.
Plate 238 from chapter 28 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). The author describes the bird within the text: “This bird is of the bigness of a common-sized tame pigeon...This curious bird is preserved at Salter’s Coffee-house, in Chelsea, near London. Its bill, head, body, and wings, are perfect; the tail and legs are wanting: but, on comparing it with the drawings of Surinam birds, by Anna Maria Marian, in the Museum of the late Sir Hans Sloane, I found a draught of it as big as life, which agreed exactly with the remains of the dried birdm, and enabled me to compleat my figure.”
The plate is inscribed: “The Brasilian Pie, or Toucan. Drawn after Nature by Geo Edwards Anno Dom: 1754.”
Plate 238 from chapter 28 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). The author describes the bird within the text: “This bird is of the bigness of a common-sized tame pigeon...This curious bird is preserved at Salter’s Coffee-house, in Chelsea, near London. Its bill, head, body, and wings, are perfect; the tail and legs are wanting: but, on comparing it with the drawings of Surinam birds, by Anna Maria Marian, in the Museum of the late Sir Hans Sloane, I found a draught of it as big as life, which agreed exactly with the remains of the dried birdm, and enabled me to compleat my figure.”
The plate is inscribed: “The Brasilian Pie, or Toucan. Drawn after Nature by Geo Edwards Anno Dom: 1754.”
Associated place