Taxidermy: A Rare Edwardian Cased Hoopoe (Upupa epops), circa 1904, by George Bristow, Taxidermist, 1863-1947, male full mount perched upon a branch issuing from moss and grit covered groundwork, amidst ferns and grasses, set against a pale painted interior, enclosed within an ebonised single-glass display case, 29cm by 12.5cm by 35cm, newspaper cutting attached to verso describing a rare sighting of such a bird around 1947.  George Bristow was an interesting character who had, at the time, claimed to have found and mounted many unusual and rare birds to be found in the British Isles. These birds, he claimed, were shot in and around the Hastings area, he also put claim to have been the "first" to have seen such rare species, but on further investigation he was found to have fraudulently claimed such sightings and instead bought such species of birds from foreign sources.  Much of his personal collection was gifted to his Doctor on his death, who then donated the collection to the RSPB