Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9985
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‘The Black and Blue Creeper; and the Hoopoe Hen’
Date
1754
Creator
George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
Object type
Library reference
38029
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 288mm
width (print): 220mm
width (print): 220mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Ornithological studies of a Red-legged honey creeper Cyanerpes cyaneus posed on a tree stump and showing the bright yellow underside of one wing; and the head of the ‘Hoopoe hen’, probably the Cock-of-the-rock Rupicola rupicola. The plate also features a specimen of British moth.
Plate 264 from chapter 54 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 2 (London, for the author, 1760). The author describes the two South American birds and the accompanying insect within the text: “The Creeper was lent me by Mr. Millan, who had it (A.D. 1753) preserved still perfect, and to whom I am obliged for its figure. The head of the Hoopoe Hen I was favoured with by Edward Byam, Esq; of Enfield, who received it from the West Indies...I suppose the Hollanders of Surinam, from whence it is said to be brought, give it the name of Widdehop, because the crest of this American Bird is so like that of the Upupa or Hoopoe...The Moth figured in the plate is drawn from nature: it is found in the fields near London: it is of a cream colour, except the head and the hinder part of the tail, which are brown.”
The plate is inscribed: “Birds from Surinam Drawn of their natural Size after nature by George Edwards AD 1754.”
Plate 264 from chapter 54 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 2 (London, for the author, 1760). The author describes the two South American birds and the accompanying insect within the text: “The Creeper was lent me by Mr. Millan, who had it (A.D. 1753) preserved still perfect, and to whom I am obliged for its figure. The head of the Hoopoe Hen I was favoured with by Edward Byam, Esq; of Enfield, who received it from the West Indies...I suppose the Hollanders of Surinam, from whence it is said to be brought, give it the name of Widdehop, because the crest of this American Bird is so like that of the Upupa or Hoopoe...The Moth figured in the plate is drawn from nature: it is found in the fields near London: it is of a cream colour, except the head and the hinder part of the tail, which are brown.”
The plate is inscribed: “Birds from Surinam Drawn of their natural Size after nature by George Edwards AD 1754.”
Associated place