I just wanted to share this absolutely beautiful specimen I found in the Museum of HSTM store today. We have a “catalogue” which is a list with varying degrees of detail of the contents of our store. It has been created by volunteers with varying degrees of enthusiasm and attention to detail and has no pictures so you’re never quite sure what you might find if the recorder wasn’t very exhaustive in their notes.
This particular specimen was listed as “a birds skull” which has the potential to be quite interesting but I wasn’t expecting this when I opened the box.
This horn-bill, who is now known as Zazu to the volunteers, will be on display in the Michael Sadler Building at the University of Leeds. As soon as I work out a safe way to display the skull where you can see both sides I will do but I suspect it will have to be displayed flat as the beak is so fragile. It will still add a beautiful pop of colour though.
Laura Sellers 
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