• Detail of a miniature of salamanders (Salamandra)., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Salamanders England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of eagles, one holding a fish, illustrating the text that when it is young the eagle can see fish in the sea from a great height; but when it gets old its eyes become dim, so it flies towards the sun and burns off the dimness, before immersing itself in water, which restores it to full strength and perfect eyesight., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Eagles England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of birds hanging from branches by their beaks., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Birds England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of house martins diving for mud (although the birds depicted are coloured more like swallows)., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. House martins England, S.

• Detail of a miniature of cranes , illustrating the text that cranes took it in turns to sleep: in this miniature, four cranes are sleeping while the fifth stands on one leg with a stone held in its other claw so that if danger approaches it can wake the others., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Cranes England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of two green birds, like parrots., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Two parrots England, S.

• Detail of a miniature of a caladrius perching at the bedside of a king, illustrating the text that states that the bird has the power to foretell whether an ill patient will live or die. If the bird turns its back on the patient, he is sure to die; however, if he faces him he will live., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Caladrius England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of mniature of herons (Ardea). This image can be interpreted in two ways: the herons can be seen as a group of three, standing together eating eels. Alternatively, it can be interpreted as a single heron, in three postures: first, dipping its head into the water to catch an eel; second, standing tall, swallowing its catch; and third, with its head twisted around to eat the eel a second time., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Herons England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of a Swan (Olor), with a fish in its beak., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Swan England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of a phoenix biting a branch, and below, burning, illustrating the text that when it felt that it was growing old, it would make its own funeral pyre, and allow itself to be consumed in the flames, which it fanned with its wings, and that it would rise again from the ashes., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Phoenix England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of pelicans (Pelicano). On the left side of the miniature, the pelican kills one of its young; on the right, it revives it by feeding it his blood., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Pelicans England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of pelicans (Pelicano). On the left side of the miniature, the pelican kills one of its young; on the right, it revives it by feeding it his blood., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

Detail of a miniature of pelicans (Pelicano). On the left side of the miniature, the pelican kills one of its young; on the right, it revives it by feeding it his blood. A 'Second Family' bestiary: see James.ff. 1* and

• Detail of a miniature of an owl (Bubo) being attacked by three smaller birds., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Owl England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of the siren (Syrene) or mermaid who holds a fish, and the prow of a boat with two men in it, one rowing., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Siren England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of a partridge (Perdix), shown in two roundels. Above, a dog crouches below four partridges. Below, a partridge tends her eggs, or perhaps one partridge is stealing eggs from another's nest, an activity for which the partridge was notorious., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Partridges England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of men and hawks catching ducks., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Hawking England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of swallows (Hyrundo) flying to their nests under eaves., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Swallows England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature at the top left of the folio: geese hissing at a fox who holds another goose in his mouth., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Geese England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Detail of a miniature of a basilisk, with snakes., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Basilisk England, S. (Salisbury?)

• Miniature of a viper, birthing its babies through its side., Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds

1753 to the nation for £10,000 (a fraction of their contemporary value) under the Act of Parliament that also established the British Museum; the Harley manuscripts form one of the foundation collections of the British Library. Vipers England, S. (Salisbury?)