Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9988
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    'The Painted Finch, Cock and Hen’ [Painted bunting]

    Date
    1757
    Creator
    George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
    Object type
    Library reference
    38029
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 288mm
    width (print): 220mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Zoology
          > Ornithology
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > bird
    Description
    Ornithological studies of the male and female Painted bunting Passerina ciris from North America, the male posed upon a branch, the female in the act of catching a bee.

    Plate 273 from chapter 63 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 birds within the text: “I have retained [Mark] Catesby’s name of this Bird, to avoid multiplying names, though it is more generally known to the curious in London by the name of Nonpariel and Mariposa...Both the above descriptions are from Cage Birds kept alive in London, which have not the perfect beauty they have in their native woods...Great numbers of these Birds are brought from North America to London, and presented or sold to the curious. They will live some years with us, if taken proper care of: I have kept one of them alive two or three years.”

    The plate is inscribed: “Non-Pareiles, Cock and Hen, Etched directly from Life of their natural size. Geo Edwards Delin et Sculp AD 1757.”
    Associated place
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