Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9980
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‘The Little Green and Orange-coloured King-Fisher; and the Blue Lizard’
Date
1753
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
Studies of a kingfisher of unknown origin, with a lizard from Nevis in the West Indies, posed together in a natural setting.
Plate 245 from chapter 35 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 and reptile within the text: “The King-fisher is here represented of its natural bigness...This bird was bought at the sale of the late Duke of Richmond’s collection, preserved in spirits, by Charles Chauncy, M.D. who lent it me to make a drawing; but we could not learn from whence it was brought....The Blue Lizard is most particular for the structure of its toes, which have little webs spreading from their sides...This draught was taken on copper immediately from nature, and of the size of life. The Lizard was brought from the island of Nevis, in the West Indies, by a young gentleman who came to London for education, and obliged me with it preserved in spirits.”
The plate is inscribed: “The Small Kingfisher of a Green and Orange-colour, it’s Native place unknown. The Blew Lizard from the Island of Nevis. Drawn after Nature by G Edwards. Published January the first 1753.”
Plate 245 from chapter 35 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 and reptile within the text: “The King-fisher is here represented of its natural bigness...This bird was bought at the sale of the late Duke of Richmond’s collection, preserved in spirits, by Charles Chauncy, M.D. who lent it me to make a drawing; but we could not learn from whence it was brought....The Blue Lizard is most particular for the structure of its toes, which have little webs spreading from their sides...This draught was taken on copper immediately from nature, and of the size of life. The Lizard was brought from the island of Nevis, in the West Indies, by a young gentleman who came to London for education, and obliged me with it preserved in spirits.”
The plate is inscribed: “The Small Kingfisher of a Green and Orange-colour, it’s Native place unknown. The Blew Lizard from the Island of Nevis. Drawn after Nature by G Edwards. Published January the first 1753.”
Associated place