Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby was a keen naturalist who built up a large library of natural history books at his home Knowsley Hall near Liverpool. Derby also developed a large menagerie on the estate, which at his death consisted of over 1,000 birds and almost 350 mammals. Many of these animals were received by the earl from explorers and naturalists who sent live specimens back to Britain. Between 1831 and 1837, Derby commissioned the artist Edward Lear to draw some of the animals found at Knowsley. A selection of the watercolours made by Lear were published in 1846 under the title Gleanings from the Menagerie and Aviary at Knowsley Hall (RCIN 1083427). This catalogue of the menagerie was published in 1851.