Grey Butcherbirds live in wooded habitats, including suburban areas, from the north of Western Australia, across different parts of the top of the country, through to mid-eastern Queensland, and then south along the eastern side of the country all the way down to Tasmania. They have a 'lovely, lilting song', and are fiercely protective of their nests and chicks, swooping at presumed attackers with enough strength to sometimes draw blood. Adult Grey Butcher Birds are typically a light grey colour with dark heads and white underparts, while their young are typically olive-brown. The mix of these two types of colouring on this animal suggests that it is a younger bird. This bird appears thinner than most Grey Butcher Birds, but it is unclear if this is because of its age or because of inaccurate taxidermy. 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. This specimen is particularly special in the Burke Museum Collection as it is part of a male/female pair (see Relationships). Many birds in the collection were originally donated in male/female pairs, but at least one specimen has been lost, leaving these as one of the few surviving sets.This Grey Butcherbird (likely male, based on size) has a bill that is dark grey at the front with a sharp hook but becomes lighter towards the face. The majority of the feathers on its back are light brown with some grey feathers around the lower half. It's crown area is a dark black colour and its tail is a dark grey. The feathers of its underparts and a small patch on either side of the neck are a yellow-white colour. There are also grey feathers coming through on its underparts. The eyes are brown. The bird stands on a brown, wooden perch with a circular bar, curved stand, and circular base. It has an identification tag tied around its left leg.19a / Collared Crow. Shrike / See Catalogue, Page 10 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, australian birds, butcher bird, butcherbird, grey butcherbird, collared crow-shrike, australian butcherbird, tasmanian butcherbird, tasmania, bird pair

The Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger, was a large nocturnal carnivorous marsupial now believed to be extinct that was native to both Australia and New Guinea. The Thylacine is believed to have first appeared over two million years ago with documentation of the species appearing on rock-art that have been dated as far back as 1,000BC. 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 and the National Museum of Victoria, as well as individuals such 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. The Burke Museum Thylacine is of great historic, scientific and cultural significance as Australia's most notable example of a species made extinct within living memory. Poignant images of the last known thylacine linger in national consciousness and remain an evocative symbol of the impact of humankind on the natural environment. The Burke Museum thylacine has immense social significance not only for its ability to tell a story to present and future generations, but also for embodying the mythic tiger that lives on elusively, we hope, in the Tasmanian wilderness. Attempts to clone the thylacine from material held in museums attest to the passion that this iconic animal evokes in the scientific as well as mainstream community. Medium sized lean female thylacine with four stocky legs and a stiff tail. The fur is short and coarse and in a light brown-yellow colour with 15 dark brown stripes across the width of the body. The head is long and narrow with two small pointy ears and a large jaw with up to 30 visible teeth.taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, thylacine, tasmanian tiger, rare

The Little Friarbird is a migrational bird, moving between northern Australia and the New South Wales/Victoria border in the spring and autumn times. It is primarily found near in forests and near water: rivers, wetlands. They eat nectar, bugs, fruit and seeds. They form monogamous pairs and nest close to water. They are not a threatened species. The Little Friarbird has a brown head, back, wings and tail. Its chest is light brown. Its legs, beak and face are dark grey. It has bright blue patches on its cheeks under the eyes. This specimen does not accurately match how the Little Friarbird looks because the specimen has lost clumps of feathers on its chest, neck and face. 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 This Little Friarbird has blue patches on its cheeks, brown head, back and tail. The front and neck are a light brown. Its back is grey. It has serious pest damage to the back of its neck, which has no feathers. Above its eyes shows early signs of pest damage. The front of the bird has ruffled patches of feathers. It stands on a dark wooden stand. It has an identification tag hanging from its left leg. Label: 61a/ Blue faced Honey Eater / See catalogue page 19 taxidermy mount, taxidermy, burke museum, beechworth, little friarbird, australian bird