Great Black-backed Gull (mounted taxidermy)

Object Status:

Extant

Primary Source Reference:

Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 24. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/

Additional Source Text:

Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 24th Lecture (ca. 1799): "No. 660. Black backed gull. with a strong pale yellow bill; the upper part of the back and wings black; primaries tipt with white; the rest of the plumage of a snowy whiteness; legs pale flesh colour. Larus marinus Linn. Black backed Gull Pennant 451. Latham No. 2. Inhabits northern Europe, as high as Iceland, Denmark, and the White sea; Greenland, and the coast of North America down to New York and South Carolina, where they are called Old Wives. Is observed in Greenland, to attack other birds, especially the Eider Duck. The Eskimaux and Greenlanders make their garments of the skins of these, as well as other waterfowl. This was a practice in early times, with every people to whom the manufactury of cloth was unknown. I received this from Sweden." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)

In January 1813, the donation of "a young Black-backed gull" by Methias Gebler was recorded in the Peale Museum Accessions Book. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, coll. 0481)

Notes:

A letter from Rev. Nicholas Collin (1746-1831) to Charles W. Peale, dated 2 June 1793, confirms that “Mr. Gustavus Von Carlson (President of one of the supreme courts of Justice) has charged himself with the exchange of Birds. This eminent ornithologist owns a precious Cabinet of Birds, containing more than 800 species; & has by testamentary disposition generously bequeathed the whole to the said [Swedish] Academy of Sciences. You will therefore be pleased to send in future the birds directly to him. He has already in return, forwarded several of the most valuable Swedish Birds…” (Miller 1988: 49, Selected Papers, Vol. 2, part 1, Yale University Press).

Specimen Type:

Dead/preserved

Current Common Name:

Great Black-backed Gull

Current Scientific Name

Laridae | Larus marinus