Natural History Collection

If you are interested in nature, then look no further than The Herbert. We have a wide range of natural history collections. There are around 180,000 specimens. They are used for research, exhibitions and lifelong learning.

Birds

We have a collection of 1000, mostly British, birds at The Herbert. The public have donated most of these. They are often victims of bad weather, exhaustion or old age, animal attack or collision with a vehicle or building.

Mammals

The Herbert has a modest collection of just under 200 mammal specimens. Most of the common British species are present. None of the larger deer, seals, whales, dolphins or porpoises is represented. The more unusual species present are pine marten and wild cat from Scotland and an edible dormouse!

Fish

Although we have only a small collection of 38 fish, some of these are very highly prized. This is because they are the work of the famous taxidermists, Peter Spicer and Sons of Leamington. These particular specimens are in cases with beautifully and realistically painted watercolour backgrounds that show their natural freshwater habitats.

Bird Eggs

Taking bird eggs from the wild is now an illegal activity. This was not the case in Victorian times and many vast collections were gathered across the Britain. The more scientific of these collectors documented their collections or labelled the eggs with data. It is these eggs that are most useful to us today.

Our collection contains some 13,000 eggs. We believe it is the ninth largest public collection in Britain. Today it is useful as a research tool. The Herbert collection has been used in an international study to see if climate change has affected the dates of egg laying in song thrush and dipper during the last century.

A CD-Rom highlighting the bird eggs in our collection is now available from the museum shop.

Miscellaneous

Other specimens in the collection include a wonderful variety of skeletons, skulls and bone. These come from such varied subjects as narwhal, gharial, lion, hyena, rhino, wild boar, dolphin and Indian elephant.

We also have wasp nests, corals and illegally imported skins and other products from endangered animals. These last items were seized by HM Customs & Excise officers, at airports and parcel depots. They are now widely used in exhibitions and events to inform the public about this disturbing trade.

Steve Lane
Keeper of Natural History
steve.lane@coventry.gov.uk
Tel: 024 7629 4762

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