The Rainbow Bee-Eater is native to Australia, living across the mainland, except in desert areas. Male and female birds are both brightly coloured, the primary difference being the length of their tail streamers. Male Bee-Eaters have longer streamers than the females. They are insectivores and use techniques to remove threats to themselves; eg. they will remove wasp's stingers to avoid the poison. They nest in sand and dig a long tunnel, at the end is a 'chamber' where they lay the eggs. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. The Rainbow Bee-Eater is a uniquely beautiful species of bird with strikingly bright colouring. The plumage is green, blue, chestnut and yellow. The build of this specimen is small and graceful and the bill is slender and curved. This Bee-Eater has two distinct streamers that extend from the base of the tail. The glass eyes provided to this specimen are dark black in colour; however, in life, this specimen has red eyes which contrast with the black stripe of colour that is located from the base of the bill to the ears. Below the black stripe, is a smaller pale blue colour. The throat is orange-yellow and the breast is green. The tail is black with a blue tinge to the plumage closer to the rear of the torso. The colouring on this particular specimen has faded significantly, but it provides a good example of what this specimen looked like while alive.Label: 5a / Australian Bee-Eater / See catalogue page 7 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, rainbow bee-eater

Mr. W. Howard standing among his bee hives.Black and white photograph of many bee hives in front of a heavily timbered area. One person is standing about the middle of the bee hives.dadswells bridge

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH - CROWD AT HOSPITAL WOOD CHOPPING - TAKEN AT WORKING BEE ABOUT 1912Written in black pen; HOSPITAL WOOD BEE ABOUT 1912 local history, photography, photographs, events and celebrations, hospital

Bee-hives in front of a shed in the Cherrypool area. The second (transparency) copy is No. 242 in the slide box.The photo shows bee-hives in front of a shed in a cleared area surrounded by eucalyptus trees. The faint outline of high mountains can bee seen in the background.misc industries, bee-keeping, scenery, cherrypool

A5 sized hard back book with mustard coloured cover with black writing & small drawing of bee skep 740 pages Inside front cover are two black & white photographs - A beekeeper tending his hive & a Queen Bee with a circle of bees around herDedication to the former authors of 'The Hive & The Honey Bee, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth, Charles Dadant and Camille Pierre Dadant, this book is affectionately dedicated by the co-authors