a color plate from 1961

Within the days when color printing was extraordinarily costly, the Avicultural Society had particular appeals for funds to help the looks in Avicultural Journal of the occasional color plate. A widely known hen artist was then commissioned. Though the entire run of the Society’s magazines may be discovered on-line, the plates hardly ever see the sunshine of day. Due to this fact I made a decision to indicate one, every now and then, on this web site. That is the thirteenth within the collection.

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The artist was John Cyril Harrison (1898-1985). For many of his life he lived in Norfolk. He educated on the Slade after the First World Battle and have become well-known for his wildlife work, particularly birds. He was a daily customer to Scotland, components of Africa and Iceland. He was prolific and his work usually seems in auctions.

The quick article accompanying this plate was written by Philip Wayre (1921-2014) who in 1959 had based the Decorative Pheasant Belief. He additionally had a small zoo at Nice Witchingham, the Norfolk Wildlife Park.

Philip Wayre wrote:

In 1958 two pairs of wild-caught Swinhoe’s had been obtained from Formosa [Taiwan] by Dr Ok.C. Searle of Hong Kong. These had been despatched to England and had been introduced to the Decorative Pheasant Belief, then within the means of formation, by Miss Kay Bonner and Mr A.A. Prestwich. From these birds two younger cocks had been reared that 12 months and these have since been mated to home-bred birds. The Belief has, subsequently, a much-needed change of blood with which to work.

Swinhoe’s Pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) is a Taiwan endemic. Robert Swinhoe (1836-1877) was in fact liable for its assortment. It was named for him by Robert Gould in 1863. Guild insisted that he ought to describe and paint your entire assortment that Swinhoe had introduced again to London, or none in any respect.

Avicultural Journal Vol 67, 1961