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@flusteredduck.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 2:00 AM

Not all depictions of medieval crows show them as black. This blue and brown crow is from the "Topographia Hibernica" which dates from the 12th century. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows

A standing brown bird with blue wings facing right. It has a derpy-looking expression. Image from National Library of Ireland, MS 700 [Topographia Hibernica / Expugnatio Hibernia], folio 13r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 2:00 AM

Medieval crows were thought to be very responsible parents, not only feeding their offspring but also escorting them in flight. This pair of crows is from an Italian herbal (c1440). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows

A pair of standing crows facing each other on a manuscript page . The crow on the right has its head raised and its beak open. Image from British Library, Sloane MS 4016 [Herbal], folio 34r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 2:00 AM

Medieval crows were said to be able to predict rain, reveal ambushes and foretell the future. This sad-looking crow is from a 1425 "De rerum naturis". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows

A black crow with a sad eye is walking towards the left in a green square on a manuscript page with its tail extending out of the square into the margin. Image from Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 291 [De rerum naturis], folio 104v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 2:00 AM

Our medieval beast this week is the crow which was thought to live a long time and be monogamous. This gorgeous crow is from the Aberdeen Bestiary (c1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows

A black crow with its neck extended and its beak in the air is walking towards the left in the centre of a red lozenge with a pale grey border set within a square red and blue frame decorated with white zigzags. The non-painted parts of the image are covered with solid gilt. Image from Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 [Aberdeen Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 58r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 2:00 AM

Some medieval scribes were obviously puzzled by the description of squirrels in the texts they were illustrating. This "squirrel" is from a 14th century "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels

A winged beast with a single horn in a gilt frame against a red background facing right on a manuscript page. The wings, head and horn are blue while the very long neck and body are a golden brown. The beast seems to have scales and its bushy tail is like a very fat horse's tail. Image from Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 13440 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 3v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 2:00 AM

Medieval squirrels were also known as "varius" and their fur was known as "vair". This plump squirrel is from a c1300-1325 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels

A very short-legged and plump red-brown squirrel climbing a green hill towards the left. Its bushy tail is resting over its back. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 27v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 29, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval squirrel was said to use its upright tail as a sail when it wanted to cross water, although I haven't been able to find this illustrated. This squirrel is from a c1287 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels

A red-brown squirrel seated on its hind-legs eating something, facing right. It has a very large bushy tail and unusually long forelegs. It is shown against a blue background inside a gilt frame on a manuscript page. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 41v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 28, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval squirrel was said to be a "petty" animal that climbed trees. This particularly lovely squirrel is from the Ormesby Psalter (13th-14th century). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels

A red-brown squirrel eating a nut facing left. It has a very upright bushy tail and surprisingly long forelegs. Its ears are also very long and very upright. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366 [The Ormesby Psalter], folio 38r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval pheasant was described as being a very beautiful and colourful bird. This pheasant is from the Alphonso Psalter (c1284). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants

A somewhat alarmed-looking bird with a red head, green throat, white belly and folded brown wings perched on a red flower within a decorative blue and red element on a manuscript page. Image from British Library, Additional MS 24686 [Alphonso Psalter], folio 18r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 23, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval pheasant was said to have feathers which were bright like fire and glittered. This image is from a 13th century "Liber de natura rerum". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants

Section of a manuscript page showing a block of red text above a gilt-framed picture of a right-facing brown bird with prominent wattles and a long blue curving tail. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 100r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval pheasant ("phasius") was also known as the "gallus silvester" (wild cock) as shown in the text below this image from a c1350 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants

A fierce-looking red-brown bird with a rooster-like tail, crown and wattles against a gilt background with stylised trees. Below the red and blue, gilt-cornered frame, the text reads "Gallus silvester". Image from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 89v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 21, 2026, 2:00 AM

This week's medieval beast is the pheasant which was named for its original home, the Greek island of Phasis. This lovely pheasant is from the Lutterell Psalter (c1325-1340). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants

A surprisingly accurate painting of a pheasant with a green head and long neck, a red-brown belly and very long tail and white-trimmed black wings folded over its back. Its legs and feet are painted white. It has a red-ringed eye and red wattles. The drawings on the reverse side of the page are visible like a watermark behind and around the drawing. Image from British Library, Additional MS 42130 [The Lutterell Psalter], folio 84v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 17, 2026, 2:00 AM

The blood of medieval turtledoves was said to help with eye ailments. This illustration of a mated pair is from an English bestiary (c1200-1210). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves

Two grey turtledoves are perched on a green leaved plant with yellow and white flowers touching their beaks together. The illustration has a dark gilt background and is in a black-bordered blue circle on a manuscript page. Image from British Library, Royal MS 12 C XIX [Bestiary (First Family)], folio 53r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval turtledove was considered a symbol of the holy church which remained faithful to Christ even after his death. This illustration is from "Ter Duinen Aviary" (1190-1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves

A concerned-looking white bird is walking towards the right in a lozenge set over the central part of a cross with red and blue text on each of its arms. There is red and blue text in a circle within the lozenge and black text on each four quarters of the page. Image from Grootseminarie Brugge, MS. 89/54 [Ter Duinen Aviary], folio 43v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 2:00 AM

After the death of its only mate, the surviving medieval turtledove was said to never perch on anything green as in this image of three solitary turtledoves from the "Bestiaire" of Guillaume le Clerc (c1265-1270). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves

A central dead tree has a solitary greenish-blue turtledove perched on its top with two other turtledoves on the ground on either side, each facing away from the tree. Although there is green beneath the tree, the ground and the tree where the turtledoves rest are brown. The illustration is bordered by a green washed frame and there is text visible above the top edge. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, fr. 14969 [Bestiaire of Guillaume le Clerc], folio 50r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval turtledove was said to be so faithful to its mate that its mate died it would never take another. This gorgeous illustration is from the Aberdeen Bestiary (c1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves

A pair of white doves sit at the top of a red-leaved stylised blue tree looking lovingly at each other. The illustration has a gilt background and is bordered by a red frame decorated with white lines on a manuscript page. Image from Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 [Aberdeen Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 31v.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval lynx buried the stone created by its urine under sand to hide it. The stone, known as "ligurian" or "lyncurius", was said to cure kidney disease. This pained-looking lynx is from a c1225-1250 English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A seated blue dog-like beast with feathery-style dots all over its coat has one of its front paws raised and its head extended while grimacing as if in pain. A large egg-like stone labelled "ligurian" is resting on its back paws. It has stylised trees on either side and is shown against a red panel in a gilt background and appears to be seated and extending beyond the bottom section of a double-banded red and blue frame on a manuscript page. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 11r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval lynx was said to represent those who preach without authority while living a sinful life. This gloriously spotty lynx is from the Ashmole Bestiary (early 13th century). #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A very spotty vaguely dog-like creature is curled up towards the front of this lozenge on a red rug looking backwards to a white goat lying at the other end of the rug. The front beast is coloured very well in various shades of blue with white outlined circles and red dots covering its whole coat. It has sharply pointed small ears and is lying on its long thin tail. The image is in a blue-bordered red circular lozenge set within a square golden frame. The outer frame and the lozenge interior have bright gilt backgrounds. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Ashmole 1511 [The Ashmole Bestiary], folio 15r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 8, 2026, 2:00 AM

The medieval lynx's urine was said to have urine which hardened into a gemstone like a flame-coloured carbuncle. The illustrator of this image shows the gemstone in a different colour and forgets the lynx's spots. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A blue dog-like animal facing towards the left is standing still emitting a stream of urine which becomes a blue gemstone as it hits the ground. It has small rounded ears and an upraised head with an open mouth. It seems to be standing on a line of text. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, lat. 6838B [Bestiary (Second Family], folio 4r.

@flusteredduck.bsky.social Sep 7, 2026, 2:00 AM

Our medieval beast this week is the lynx which was described as resembling a wolf but with panther-like spots on its bike. This particular lynx is from a late 13th century English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #lynx

A happy-looking dog like beast running in a frame on a manuscript page. It faces to the right with its very long straight tail hanging out of the frame on the bottom left. The tail ends in a wavy trident. The beast is the same colour as the page with three rows of neat red dots on its back, the middle row running down its tail. It has what looks like a short curly mane over its head, shoulders and chests. It has short rounded ears and seems to have whiskers. It is shown with an open mouth with a very red tongue and seems to be smiling. It is shown in front of a stylised uncoloured tree on a deep blue background with red and white decorations. The image is surrounded by a red frame with gilt corners with handwritten text at the top, bottom and to the right. The long tail extends into an empty margin on the right. Image from Bibliothèque Nationale de France, lat. 3630 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 76v.