The Museum Natural History Most of what is here isn’t immediately obvious
Butterflies are kept in drawers in special cabinets
• Many collectors travelled the world to add to their collections. (Exotic butterflies above) • Others collected only British species or bought from the travellers. (British butterflies right)
Butterflies were a popular with collectors because of their colour and variation. The individuals in each column are the same species despite the variation in colour and pattern.
These are part of our latest acquisition. They are all British butterflies
Fossils & Geology
Fossils are also kept in special drawers
Snowy Owl
Harry Potter isn't the only one with a SNOWY OWL. Unfortunately ours doesn't fly but then it is rather old. This is a large owl compared with our resident owls. They can be between 53 cm and 66 cm from head to tail tip. Our Tawny Owl is about 38 cm and the Little Owl is 22 cm
The Buzzard is quite a common sight in Surrey today. Usually seen soaring on thermals or cruising across fields searching for prey. Many people seeing this large bird for the first time think they have seen an Eagle. The Buzzard is between 51 cm & 56 cm The Golden Eagle is between 75 cm & 88 cm, very much bigger.
Buzzard
The Tawny Owl is the one we associate with the tu-whit tu-whoo call. This is in fact two owls The female making the higher pitched tu-whit part of the call. Little Owls can be seen during the day time perched on a tree branch or a fence post. Introduced in 1879
Tawny Owl
These 5 owls are all resident in Britain. The ‘ears’ of Long-eared and Short-eared owls are actually tufts of feathers. Their ears, like all owls, are either side of their head but they are asymetric, one higher than the other which helps them to locate their prey.
Short-eared Owl Little Owl (male)
Little Owl (female)
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is sometimes called ‘Ghost Owl’ because of its pale appearance, especially noticeable when seen hunting in the pale light of dusk.
Long-eared Owl
Raptors Sparrowhawks agile are woodland hunters. Weaving through the trees chasing other woodland birds such as Blackbird or Wood Pigeon. The female is larger than the male.
Kestrel Female Male (tiercel)
Sparrowhawk Male
Kestrel is the bird seen hovering by motorways and major roads. Fewer of them now their numbers are declining. Probably due to a reduction in prey species (mice and voles)
Female
This Heron (left) is displayed in a diorama representing its habitat. The Kingfishers below are in a small dome shaped case but again with habitat represented.
This case of birds, collected by N C Rothschild in the Sudan in 1901, has its own tale to tell. A tale of plague, murder and taxidermy! Find out more here: http://bit.ly/Rothschildbirds