Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
21 May 1805
Primary Source Reference:
Peale Museum Accessions Book, 21 May 1805. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481.
Additional Source Text:
On 21 May 1805, a "Crown Heron, living" donated by Bellvue Soisson was entered in the Peale Museum Accessions Book (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481).
This may have been the same bird mentioned in a donation announcement in the United States Gazette on 7 February 1806: "the crown bird of Africa."
Peale wrote, in "A Walk Through the Philad[elphi]a Museum" (1805–1806): "We are fortunate in having the oportunity of seeing Living one of the first section in this beautiful Crowned Heron (Ardia Pavonia). It is a stately Bird and the french call it L'oiseau Royal, royal Bird on account of its Majestic cariage - it moves with slow and deliberate Steps. It is a sociable though timid bird. In its appetite differ from common Herons as it is equally fond of Grain as of fish and also feeds on Insects. Inhabits Africa & Guinea." (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)
Notes:
The present identification (B. pavonina) is based on the Linnaean name given by Peale in the "Walk" essay. However, the bird depicted in Planches enluminées d’histoire naturelle (Tome 3, Pl. 265) under the name "L'Oiseau-Royal" was a Grey-crowned Crane Balearica regulorum, as evidenced by the white coloration of the face and extended red throat pouch. Bellvue Soisson was probably a French visitor to Philadelphia.
Specimen Type:
Live (later taxidermied)
Current Common Name:
Black-crowned Crane
Current Scientific Name
Gruidae | Balearica pavonina
