RESERVED Antique French Taxidermied Great Crested Grebe -

Code: TX1/122

Dimensions:

Antique French Taxidermied Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps Cristatas - 1910 Mounted on Wooden Stand - Antique Taxidermy - TX1/122

Great Crested Grebes are the largest members of the grebe family and have a distinctive body shape - long slender neck and long low body. The bill is long and dagger- like. Compared to other grebes they are more extensively pale. During the breeding season the black head plumes and chestnut tippets of adult birds are unmistakable. Non-breeding adults and juveniles lack the full crest and tippets, and have a dark crown bordered by a white face (fore-supercilium), the white extends down the fore-neck and chest. Great Crested Grebes are not shy and spend much of their time on open water and during the breeding season. The birds are quite famous for their display of elaborate courtship rituals.

This species was hunted almost to extinction in the United Kingdom in the 19th century for its head plumes, which were used to decorate hats and ladies' undergarments. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was set up to help protect this species, which thankfully, is once again a common sight.

This Antique specimen from France is in Winter Plumage and has been mounted on a piece of shaped and stained wood. It dates from 1920 and unsurprisingly, at some time in its life naughty little woodworms have found it and had a tiny feast on the wood; it has been treated and none remain; but the little holes have been filled, this really is a lovely and unusual bird - around 100 years old, not bad.  It stands at 15" / 38cm high, 12.5" / 31cm long and 7" / 17.5cm wide. The weight without packaging is 555g.

The item will be carefully packed ( if possible using recycled materials ) and shipped using the Irish Postal system An Post, PRICE INCLUDES TRACKED DELIVERY.
WE DISPATCH PROMPTLY BUT ANY POSTAL AND COURIER DELIVERY DELAYS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ARE COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL.