This drawing was originally in the collection of Sir Elijah and Lady Impey. Due to their fascination with Indian flora and fauna, the Impeys amassed a large collection of live animals and birds in their house in Middleton Row, Calcutta. From 1777 onwards they employed three Indian artists to depict their collection, Shaikh Zayn al-Din, Bhawani Das and Ram Das. These artists are described as natives of Patna, an important Mughal city in eastern India. Between them they created more than 300 paintings between 1777 and 1782. Many of the paintings were inscribed in English and Persian probably by one of Impey's clerks and many were stamped on the reverse with Sir Elijah Impey's seal