Letter on Platypus in "Extracts from the Minute Book of the Linnean Society of London"
London: Linnean Society, 1822. Wraps. An early platypus description in a three page Letter describing the capture and dissection of a pregnant female 'Ornithorhynchus paradoxus' in Australia in 1820, in this extract, as well as a list of donors to the Museum of the Society which includes several prominent individuals of New South Wales.
The Letter was contributed by Mr. Patrick Hill, Surgeon in the Royal Navy (dated Sydney, New South Wales, 3d January 1821) and describes an October 1,1820 capture of a male platypus and the dissection of its foot to obtain the spur, as well as the capture near Campbell's River and dissection of the pregnant female platypus (pp621-624).
The List of Donors to the Museum includes donations of specimens never before held in the Society's Collection. The names of the Australian donors are: John Bigge (Specimens of Quadrupeds from New South Wales), the Rev. J. H. Scott (Specimens of Birds from NSW), Alex. MacLeay (quadrupeds and birds from NSW), Edward Barnard (A Specimen of Ornithorhynchus paradoxus, and Birds from NSW), James Hunter (Birds from the North Coast of New Holland) and Charles Stokes (Specimen of Meliphaga phrygia from NSW) (p636).
Extract from Volume XIII, Transactions of the Linnean Society. 4to, pp 615 - 637, [1]pp.
In blue thick paper wrappers. Bright and clean. Very good condition. Item #24164
Price: $250.00