Natural Gallery

Edward Heath Rodd, England. Around 1879

Upper body studio portrait photograph of Edward Hearle Rodd (1810-1880), seated and reading a book. Rodd was born in St Just in Roseland, and, after qualifying as a solicitor, settled in Penzance. He was a keen ornithologist and wrote a large number of papers for The Zoologist and the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. He is credited with rescuing many rare birds in Cornwall from oblivion and adding several bird species to the List of British Birds. Photographer: Unknown

© From the collection of the RIC

Red-masked Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys), Ecuador or Peru, South America

The Red-masked Parakeet originates from South America and is grass green with a solid red plumage mask covering the forecrown, crown and cheeks. It is one of the best talking birds and therefore is a popular pet. The species has declined in Ecuador and Peru, due to habitat loss and fragmentation, along with trapping for the pet trade. Escaped pets have led to wild parakeet colonies in North America. Collected by Mrs Moor in 1909

© RIC, photographer Mike Searle

Regent Bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus), New South Wales, Australia

A male Regent Bowerbird perched on a branch. The bird's plumage is jet black with bright golden yellow on the head, nape and wings. The Regent Bowerbird lives in the sub-tropical rainforests of Eastern Australia and was named in honour of the Prince of Wales, who was Prince Regent (1811-1820) in the reign of George III. Bowerbirds are so called because they build decorative bowers, or shelters, to attract female mates. They mix a pea green "saliva paint" in their mouths which they use to decorate their bowers and will sometimes use leaves as "paintbrushes" to help spread the substance, representing one of the few known instances of tools used by birds. They then decorate them with shells, seeds, leaves and berries. Collected by Mrs Moor in 1909

© RIC, photographer Mike Searle