A Wilson Stan Smith Autograph tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo, flanked by two pairs of brown diamond devices. Throat features model name, with a black and red silhouette of Smith in action. Lower shaft and butt cap feature 'W' trademark. Racquet features Wilson brand leather handle grip. Autograph by Smith across throat on reverse. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Glue, Metal, Lacquer, Paint, Adhesive tape, Ribbon, Plastic, Fibreglasstennis

A wooden tennis racquet with hide supports, blue and gold string whipping, and a leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Inscription along throat and shaft on obverse: SUPER/WINNER/BANCROFT. Inscription across throat, on reverse (now removed): F.J. BANCROFT/.../PAWTUCKET/R.I. U.S.A./... Original decal trademark comprises of an eagle grasping a tennis racquet, in front of the Globe, with motto: USED/THE WORLD OVER. Materials: Wood, Gut, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ink, String, Cloth, Hidetennis

A Le Coq Sportif 'ProMaker' metal tennis racquet, with double shaft, maroon plastic throat bridge and handle wrapped in brown leather. Has a plastic butt cap with adhesive label featuring manufacturer's logo. Manufacturer name & logo also on adhesive label on throat bridge. Model name on decal on right edge of shaft. A maroon plastic strip around crown buffers strings from metal edges. Materials: Metal, Adhesive tape, Plastic, Leather, Adhesive label, Nylontennis

A wooden racquet with a convex throat and tilt top. The handle is framed by red leather end and stem wraps. String whipping feature at both sides towards the base of the head. The outer frame of the racquet head is sealed with a green painted cloth strip, glued and nailed to it. At the base of the throat on the obverse is a nailed silver plaque, with an engraved inscription and monogram: 30, JUNE, 83/AGF/"YOU KNOW WHO". The plaque conceals the manufacturer's details, which, from what is still legible, is definitely George G. Bussey. The model type 'THE DIAMOND' and the number 13 features on the upper throat and stem on the obverse, respectively. To highlight the model name, the gutstringing is arranged in a rare, diamond pattern. Materials: Wood, Gut, String, Cloth, Leather, Metal, Glue, Lacquertennis

A wooden tennis racquet, with solid convcave throat, oval head, and string whipping around shoulders. Octagonal handle with leather end wrap. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Glue, Gut, String, Leathertennis

a wooden racuet green and red whipping and black butt cover. Decal inscription along the throat on both sides of the racquet: STREAMLINE. Materials: Wood, Gut, String, Leather, Metal, Ink, Glue, Lacquertennis

A Dura-Fiber prototype tennis racquet, featuring open throat, handle grip wrapped in leather and plastic butt cap. No net. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Paint, Leather, Adhesive tapetennis

A Dunlop Maxflex, graphite/ceramic squash racquet with open throat (1), and cover (2). Materials: Graphite, Plastic, Nylon, Synthetic material, Adhesive tape, Ink, Ceramic, Vinyl, Plastic, Ink, Metaltennis

A Read squash racquet, with gut stringing, and leather handle grip. Manufacturer's details across throat on obverse, and across butt cover. Materials: Wood, Gut, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Leather, String, Inktennis

A tennis racquet with wedgeless, open throat, red cloth tape binding lower shoulders and upper shaft, and collaring mid-shaft and butt. Materials: Wood, Gut, Cloth tape, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A Rollin Wilson Midget Model, children's tennis racquet, with paper tape whipping around shaft/handle. Manufacturer and model decal on throat on obverse. Materials: Wood, Twine, Paper, Glue, Lacquer, Inktennis

A 'Champion' model transitional flat-top tennis racquet, with solid convex throat, black leather crown protector, and fine-grooved, slender octagonal handle. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Leathertennis

A 'Standard' tennis racquet, with solid convex throat , flat-topped oval head, and cloth tape reinforcements around shoulders. Hexagonal handle. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Glue, Gut, Cloth, Ink, Painttennis

A Spalding Metalite tennis racquet, with an aluminium head, open throat and upper shaft, and wooden lower shaft and fine-grooved handle. Materials: Wood, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Gut, Leather, Paint, String, Inktennis

An F.A. Davis wooden tennis racquet, with solid convex throat, cloth tape shoulder reinforcements, and fine-grooved handle with fantail butt. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Ink, Cloth tapetennis

A Slazenger C.P.S.A. Graphite Comp, wood/graphite squash racquet, with open throat, and synthetic handle grip still sealed in original plastic wrap. Materials: Wood, Graphite, Ink, Synthetic material, Nylon, Plastictennis

A Slazenger Quadro Concept, graphite squash racquet, with open throat, and synthetic handle grip which is still sealed in original plastic wrap. Materials: Graphite, Nylon, Ink, Adhesive tape, Synthetic material, Plastictennis

A Rollin Wilson Midget Model, children's squash racquet, with paper tape whipping around shoulders and handle. manufacturer and model details impressed onto throat. Materials: Wood, Gut, Paper, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A 'VIP' Fox laminated wood tennis racquet, with open throat, Wilson 'Championship' string netting, and TAD brand butt cap. Materials: Wood, Synthetic material, Ink, Adhesive tape, Nylon, Rubber, Painttennis

A badminton racquet, with inscription along throat, on obverse: CARLTON. Racquet is contained within an unrelated 'Army & Navy' Badminton set (TA 2009.297). Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Cloth tape, Gut, Leather, Gluetennis

Eastern Meadowlarks live throughout the grasslands and farms in eastern North America. On the ground, their brown-and-black dappled upperparts camouflage the birds among dirt clods and dry grasses. When in flight or perching, they reveal bright-yellow breasts and bellies, and a striking black chevron across the chest. The Eastern Meadowlark has a diet which consists of mainly insects and seeds. These birds forage by walking on the ground and taking insects and seeds from the ground and from low plants. In winter, these birds may choose to forage in flocks. 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 Eastern Meadowlark has a yellow breast and throat with black plumage in the shape of a 'V' on it's throat. This particular specimen has a long pointed bill which is in the shape of a spear. The crown of the bird is a dark brown and it also has lighter brown/yellow stripes on the brow. The back, wings, and tail are light brown with dark brown mottling. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg. The legs are long and the specimen has been styalised in an upright position.Label: [illegible] Ant-Eating Thrush / Catalogue, Page 66. /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, american birds, eastern meadowlark, meadowlark

An late 18th century court tennis racquet, made from two pieces of interlocked wood, secured with two screws. One is the handle/throat, the other is the shoulders/head. The latter unfortunately had, at some point in the past, split at the crown, and whipping was applied to reinforce it. The gut stringing is three-way. The throat and lower shoulders have been hand painted, with both linear and floral designs. Across the thoat on the obverse is the monogram which reads 'BWB'. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Metal, Gut, Paint, Stringtennis

A wooden, slotted handle racquet, with a 12 1/2 inch head. Inscription across base of head and throat of obverse: VINCENT RICHARDS/GOOD SHOT! Inscription across base of head and throat of reverse: HARRY C. LEE & CO/NEW YORK. Inscriptions featuring manufacturing and patent details situated along the sides of the stem. A handwritten inscription, in blue marker, along the stem of the obverse: DON BUDGE "1938". Materials: Wood, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, String, Gut, Leather, Metal, Clothtennis

A wooden racquet featuring dyed wood frame, popular in the 1940's. Decal on throat on obverse comprises of the monogram 'MW' on a blue ribbon, in front of a starred and striped shield, crowned by an eagle. Decal inscription across throat on reverse: NATIONAL. The patent across right side of racquet, was issued in February 1939, for the "coloring of bent wood", developed by William Whyte, an employee of Cortland, who manufactured tennis racquets. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Leather, Plastic, Adhesive tape, Vinyltennis

A wooden racquet with concave throat, blue painted stem, plastic whipping, and brown cloth tape handle grip. Decal across throat, on both sides, features the inscription: JC HIGGINS/OUR OWN TRADE MARK/CADET. Below inscription is the head and shoulders profile image of a military cadet in uniform. Initials 'LH' have been etched along stem on obverse. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ink, Leather, Adhesive tape, Paint, Plastic, Cloth tape, Clothtennis

A wooden racquet with cloth tape supports and whipping, and a grooved handle. Inscription across green and red throat on obverse: CALIFORNIA/MODEL/F. Trademark, in red and black, on throat on reverse features company monogram 'CBP/CO' with the inscription: CALIFORNIA/ATHLETIC GOODS. Decal inscription along right side of handle: M[ANU]F[ACT]URED BY/CALIFO[R]NIA BY-PRODUCTS CO./SA[N] FRANCISCO, U.S.A. Materials: Wood, Gut, String, Leather, Cloth tape, Metal, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Painttennis

A concave wooden racquet with red, black, and white plastic whipping, and short, leather handle grip. Inscription across throat on obverse: MERCURY, which is supported by decal image of Mercury the Herald to the World. Company monogram 'B' situated below on stem. Inscription across base of head on reverse: "BENTLEY"/NIAGARA/FALLS. Decal of company coat-of-arms below on throat. Company monogram 'B' is impressed onto red butt cover. Materials: Wood, Gut, Plastic, Metal, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Leather, Stringtennis

A wooden racquet with white cloth tape over parchment reinforcing, and a fine-grooved handle grip. The parchment reinforcing continues from the shoulders down the throat, creating the outline of a heart shape. Inscription across crown on obverse: SLAZENGERS'.Inscription along right side of handle: SLAZENGERS' NEW YORK. Inscription across throat on reverse: PATENT SHOULDERS. Butt cover features racquet maintenance instructions. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Ink, Cloth tape, Leather, Parchment, Stringtennis