Rattle

Bird-shaped Rattle; The rattle is in the form of a bird with open curved beak, round eyes, straight tipped wings, a straight tipped tail and a round handle. It has been decorated with an anthropomorphic head carved into the bird's chest, with downward slanting eyes and an open oval mouth. The top of the body has been joined to the lower half with thread tied through three pairs of holes on each side.Originally catalogued as 'William Hunter from Captain Cook' on unknown evidence, the rattle was confirmed as a Cook object by Adrienne Kaeppler, collected on his third voyage. It also features in Laskey's 1813 account of the Hunterian Museum under 'E'. On loan to "James Cook and the Exploration of the Pacific" exhibition, commencing Bonn, 28 August 2009.