Part 1

Transcriber Notes

● Obvious typos and punctuation errors corrected. Spelling of names Lamarck and Bruguière standardized, otherwise variations in spelling, capitalization and hyphenation retained. ● “var” is sometimes italicized, other times not. It has been kept as printed. ● Corrections printed in the text as a note to THE BINDER have been made. In addition, plates 19 and 20 were reversed in the original. These plates have been swapped so that the correct image precedes the chapter that discusses it. ● Missing title text “PLATE VI” added at the start of its chapter. ● Missing entry for Plate 36 in the Index has been added. “Polita, Nerita, var; Pink-Banded Variety of the Thick Polished Nerit 36” ● There are entries in the Index that don’t seem to correspond to specific text in the related plate chapter, but may refer to a plant that is in the plate background. ● The author uses asterisks in varying numbers in front of some descriptive text at the beginning of plate chapters. There are also a couple of asterisks within the text that appear similar to footnote indicators, but a corresponding footnote does not seem to exist. These asterisks have been left in the text in their original location. ● Footnotes have been moved to the end of their respective chapters. ● Italics are indicated by underscores surrounding the _italic text_. ● Small capitals have been converted to ALL CAPS. ● Superscript text is represented by a ^ preceding it, e.g. 1.^{st}.

THE NATURALIST’S REPOSITORY, OR Monthly Miscellany OF EXOTIC NATURAL HISTORY:

CONSISTING OF

ELEGANTLY COLOURED PLATES WITH APPROPRIATE SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS

OF THE MOST CURIOUS, SCARCE, AND BEAUTIFUL

PRODUCTIONS OF NATURE

THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY DISCOVERED

IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD;

AND MORE ESPECIALLY SUCH

NOVELTIES

As from their extreme Rarity remain entirely undescribed, or which have not been duly noticed by any preceding Naturalists.

THE WHOLE COMPOSED ACCORDING TO THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF

The Science,

AND FORMING COLLECTIVELY A TRULY VALUABLE COMPENDIUM OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES OF QUADRUPEDS, BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS, SHELLS, MARINE PRODUCTIONS,

AND EVERY OTHER INTERESTING OBJECT OF NATURAL HISTORY, THE PRODUCE OF FOREIGN CLIMATES.

BY E. DONOVAN, F.L.S. W.S. &c.

VOL. I.

London:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR AND W. SIMPKIN AND R. MARSHALL, STATIONERS’ HALL COURT, LUDGATE STREET.

1823.

Plummer and Brewis, Printers, Love Lane, Eastcheap.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Twelfth Number of this work is now respectfully submitted to the attention of the public. This number, accompanied by the Title Page and Index, renders the first volume complete. The Subscribers, therefore, are now enabled to form a correct idea of the nature and object of the undertaking: and from the style in which it has been so far conducted, to form some conclusion of that in which it is likely for the future to be continued.

The general approbation that has been bestowed already upon this publication can be best appreciated from the extent of sale, which, to say the least, has been respectable from the commencement, notwithstanding that the undertaking was began under the manifest disadvantage of being little known, and the very knowledge of its existence being still in no small degree circumscribed. It is not, therefore, without a sense of grateful feeling that the author has observed that besides the incidental sale of the different detached or monthly parts selected by purchasers desirous of the plates and descriptions of some particular object of rarity, that the number of regular subscribers, instead of diminishing, has rapidly advanced with the publication of each number in succession, and as it seems to appear in proportion as the public became better acquainted with its merits, and the more assured of its uninterrupted continuance. While this testimony of approbation prevails, the author of this undertaking will be duly stimulated to exert his best means of rendering it deserving of their consideration. Nor has he any hesitation in believing that it will be in his power, under the auspices of public favour, to produce a work of much elegance, and no mean utility, either as a work of taste for the library of the general reader, or the admirer of nature; the folios of the amateur, or the professed Study of the experienced Naturalist.

The commencement of this work was necessarily preceded by a few observations upon the nature and object of the undertaking: those observations are no less appropriate on the present occasion than the former, and for this reason we shall again advert to them in restating the intention the author has in view. The NATURALIST’S REPOSITORY, or MONTHLY MISCELLANY OF EXOTIC NATURAL HISTORY, is designed to comprehend in the most commodious form, a miscellaneous assemblage of elegantly coloured plates, with appropriate scientific and general descriptions of the most curious, scarce, and beautiful productions of nature that have been recently discovered in various parts of the world or may hereafter occur to the notice of the author; and more especially of such novelties as from their extreme rarity remain entirely undescribed, or which have not been duly noticed by any preceding Naturalist.

Most readers, it is presumed, will be aware that the labours of the authors life, during a course of many years have been directed to the pursuits of natural science: labours not confined to any one particular branch or department of the varied face of nature, but extending generally to the whole. The endeavours of the author to elucidate the Natural History of the British Isles are sufficiently known from the various extensive works which have been produced by him during the course of the last thirty years, and the magnitude which those works have at length acquired in the progressive course of publication that had been adopted, is the best criterion of the approbation that has attended them. But it is not within the views of the author in this place to expatiate upon a subject which might be deemed irrelevant, the works alluded to being devoted solely to the productions of our native country, while the avowed object of the present undertaking is to comprehend a selection of those only which are peculiar to foreign, and with few exceptions, to extra European climates. The chief motive of the author in adverting to those works, is to point out a style and mode of execution for the present undertaking, which, from the very extensive patronage those former labours of the author have experienced, may be considered applicable in a very peculiar degree to every purpose of correct elucidation, and as one most likely to ensure by its elegance and perfection that same proportion of general approbation which the other productions of the author have obtained.

With respect to the means within the author’s power of rendering this work deserving of the public notice, either as to the novelty, variety, rarity, or beauty of the various objects it is destined to embrace, the author must rather trust to the favourable opinion which the world may entertain in its behalf, from the examples now submitted to consideration, than to any preliminary observations he can offer: he shall only presume respectfully that they are adequate to the purpose, and calculated to answer every moderate expectation his preliminary observations may have excited.

It will be readily conceived that the opportunities of the author’s life, so assiduously devoted to the Science of Nature, must have enabled him to enrich his _port feuilles_ with a collection of DRAWINGS, MANUSCRIPTS, and MEMORANDA of no mean importance in all its branches. This is perfectly correct. His own Museum confined chiefly, but not exclusively, to the productions of Great Britain, have afforded many rarities, the offspring of foreign climates, which could not elsewhere be procured. But independently of those resources which his own collection has afforded, his other means have been amply extensive. Through the kindness of his scientific friends, he has had unlimited access to many other collections of acknowledged moment, for the purpose of enriching his Collectanea with drawings and descriptions of the more interesting rarities which those cabinets respectively contained. Some of those collections exist no longer and are probably now forgotten, but the memory of others, even among the number of those which have passed away, will ever be cherished with regret in the mind of every man of science by whom their merits were understood. The preservation even of the memorials of some minor portion of the rarities which those collections once embodied can scarcely fail to prove of interest at the present day, while their total loss to the rising generation will be in some degree appreciated from the memoranda and occasional references that will appear respecting them in the progress of the present work: to enumerate the many collections of private individuals, the rarities of which have contributed to render this collection of the author’s drawings important, would extend our advertisement far beyond our intended limits. It may be sufficient to observe that the late Leverian Museum, rich in every branch of Natural History, has tended in an eminent degree to this effect; the author having been favoured with unreserved permission to take drawings and memoranda of whatever he deemed important, besides having subsequently enriched his own Museum with a very ample portion of that fine collection, by public purchase, at the time of its dispersion; particularly in the different tribes of the Mammiferous animals, in Ornithology, Ichthyology, and various others; and also with every object materially important among the extraneous fossils which that splendid museum originally contained. It will be also seen from many of our pages that through the kindness of the late worthy President of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks, the rich and truly scientific collection of that munificent patron of the sciences was ever open to us for the furtherance of our pursuits in Natural History; and of the object of the present work among others. The collections of Mr. Drury, and also that of Mr. Francillon, in the particular branches of Entomology, are too considerable to be passed slightly over: the rarities of both these collections have in an eminent degree improved our means of rendering this work important. And lastly we may mention among other scientific acquisitions the Collectanea of drawings formed by the pencil of the late Mr. Jones of Chelsea, together with the manuscripts of Fabricius in elucidation, as a treasure which cannot be too highly appreciated when we recollect the importance of the Fabrician writings on the continent, and remember also that those drawings afford the only illustration of the most splendid portion of the insect race which that author exclusively describes, and by which very many of the species can alone be now determined.

In conclusion of these remarks it may be observed, however, that while in our elucidation of those rarities which the collections and museums above adverted to have so amply afforded, we render a deserved tribute of record to the liberality of those whose services in the cause of Natural History have so amply contributed to its advancement in former days, the author will not remain unmindful of those advantages which the many valuable collections of the present period offer. It will appear as this work proceeds that he is in no small degree indebted to the favor of many eminent scientific characters of our time, as well as those who have preceded them, for their permission to take drawings and descriptions of such rarities in their collections as really appear worthy of distinct consideration. And it may be added finally that he shall at all times avail himself with pleasure, and acknowledge with thanks, any further advantages of the same kind which the favours of others may be induced to allow for the purpose of enriching the present undertaking.

LAMBETH, _March 1st, 1823_.

Table of Contents.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO VOL. I.

Plate. Fig.

Acamas, Papilio; Acamas’s Butterfly 18

Agave, Papilio; Agave’s Butterfly 6 2

Ageæa, Papilio; Ageæa’s Butterfly 12

Alliacea, Peteveria, America 24 1

Ammiralis, Conus, _var_ Amboinensis; 1 1 Three-Banded High-Spired Admiral Shell

Ammiralis, Conus, _var_; Six-Banded 1 2 High-Spired Admiral Shell

Ammiralis, Conus, _var_ Cedonulli; 1 3 Olive-Banded Nonpareil Cone

Ammiralis, Conus, _var_ Fulvous 1 4 Nonpareil Cone

Aurantiaea, Jacquinia, Sandwich Isles 25

Aurora, Cypræa; Aurora, Morning Dawn, or 32 Orange Cowry

Belladonna, Papilio; Belladonna’s 35 Butterfly

Bengalus, Fringilla, Blue-Bellied Finch 10

Camara Lantana, West Indies 18

Cayana, Ampelis, Purple-Throated 14 Chatterer

Ciris, Emberiza, Painted Bunting 7

Codomannus, Papilio, Codomannus’s 3 1, 1 Butterfly

Dimas, Papilio, Dimas’s Butterfly 27 2

Foliatus, Murex, Tri-Foliated Murex, or 15 Rock Shell

Galgulus, Psittacus, Sapphire Crowned 17 Parrakeet

Harpa, Buccinum var testudo, 8 Tortoise-Shell Harp

Hippodamia, Papilio; Hippodamia’s 31 Butterfly

Homerus, Papilio; Homer’s Butterfly 19

Imperialis, Trochus var Roseus; Roseate 11 Imperial Sun Trochus

Maculatus Psittacus; Spotted-Breasted 33 Parrakeet

Marcellina, Papilio; Marcellina’s 6 1, 1 Butterfly

Melanopterus, Psittacus; Black-Winged 30 Parrakeet

Ornatus, Trochilus; Tufted-Necked 25 Humming Bird

Ovata, Goodenia; Ovate-Leaved Goodenia 20

Palustre, Sedum, North America 29

Parmentaria, Erica 35

Pella, Trochilus, Topaz Humming Bird 5

Polita, Nerita, var; Pink-Banded Variety 36 of the Thick Polished Nerit

Psamethe, Papilio, Psamethe’s Butterfly 9

Punctata, Pipra, Punctata, or Speckled 20 Manakin

Pylades, Papilio, Pylades’s Butterfly 13

Pyramus, Papilio, Pyramus’s Butterfly 3 2, 2

Pyrum, Voluta, Pear Volute, Front View 21 1

---- Reversed Ditto, or Sacred Chank 21 2 Shell, Front View

Pyrum, Voluta, Pear Volute, Back View 22 1

---- Reversed Ditto, or Sacred Chank 22 2 Shell, Back View

Sanguinea, Terebratulo, Sanguineous Lamp 34 Anomia, or Lamp Cockle

Scalaris, Turbo (Scalaria Pretiosa) 26 Scarce Wentletrap

Scapha, Volute var Nobilis, Noble 4 Chinese Volute

Scorpio, Murex, var Minor; Least Stag’s 16 Horn Murex

Thersites, Papilio, Thersites Butterfly 24

Tricolor, Tanagra β, Tricoloured Tanager 23

Tros, Papilio, Tros’s Butterfly 29

Viridis, Trogon, Yellow-Bellied Green 2 Trogon or Curucui

Vulgaris, Malleus, Hound’s Tongue Hammer 28 Shell

Zacynthus, Papilio, Zacynthus’s 27 1 Butterfly

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

THE BINDER

Is requested to observe that the Numbers have been transposed by mistake upon the Three following Plates.

For Plate 27 _read_ 25. Plate 25 _read_ 26. Plate 26 _read_ 27.

And place the plates with their respective descriptions according to this correction.

THE

NATURALIST’S REPOSITORY.

_&c. &c. &c._

CONCHOLOGY.

PLATE I.

FIGURE I.

CONUS AMMIRALIS var AMBOINENSIS.

THREE-BANDED AMBOYNA HIGH-SPIRED ADMIRAL SHELL.

UNIVALVE.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Animal a limax. Shell univalve, convolute and turbinate. Aperture effuse, longitudinal, linear, without teeth, entire at the base: pillar smooth.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER AND SYNONYMS.

Shell with rough punctures at the base.

CONUS AMMIRALIS: testa basi punctato scabra.

CONUS AMMIRALIS: testa basi punctato. _Linn. Syst. Nat. 10 p. 714. n. 257._—_Mus. Lud. Ulr. 553. n. 157. Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. 3378. 10._

CONUS AMMIRALIS _var_ AMBOINENSIS. α. Spire high and tapering; shell pyriform, glossy, smooth, pale yellowish with two broad bands of testaceous marked with large subsaggitate oval spots of white, and a narrow band between composed of white spots and intermediate testaceous dots.

* * * * *

Were it within the contemplation of our present views to enter into the ancient history of the science of Conchology, we should be under little difficulty in demonstrating upon the authority of the best informed historians as well as ancient classics that it has a claim to very remote antiquity. The study of Shells prevailed, at least to some extent, in those early times when the generality of mankind believe the world to have been buried in the depths of ignorance. At periods, even when some among those of better information may be inclined to imagine that the ancients could have had no very accurate conceptions of the nature of these bodies, or of their classification, natural or artificial, and even when it might be supposed from the warlike temper of the age the collecting of shells would have been deemed an unworthy occupation, we discover sufficient indications to prove that their leisure hours were so employed. The productions of the sea were delineated in their manuscripts; Pliny speaks of the delight the artist took in painting the asterias, or sea stars. The spontaneous offerings of the ocean were depicted in their natural colours upon the walls of their dwellings, abundant evidence of which appears among the ancient paintings of Herculaneum and Pompeii; and that the shells themselves were sometimes collected by the ancients is placed beyond a doubt from those remains which have been found, at various times, among the relics of those celebrated ruins, and also among the ruins of the Roman town, perhaps no less ancient, denominated La Scava.

It is declared by Pliny, in the ninth book of his Natural History, that the Romans of his time were better acquainted with the productions of the sea than the animals of the land, a circumstance he attributes, and unquestionably with sufficient reason, to the extravagant excess to which the luxurious taste of those times was carried. This will excite the less surprise when we recollect the various useful results deduced from this investigation. Of these we have several very memorable examples; the exquisite dyes of green, the scarlet, and the imperial purple, which they possessed and prized so eminently, were all the produce of testaceous bodies. And so likewise the pearls gathered from the various perlaceous bivalve shells; and pearls we are assured were in those days valued at Rome, as in Egypt, at a price infinitely beyond that of gold and gems, the diamond alone excepted.

Pliny tells us, that, in his time, after the diamonds of India and Arabia, pearls were esteemed most precious, and that we may be under no error as to the application of the text to the pearls found in shells, he further adds, that he had before spoken of these pearls in his book that treats upon the productions of the sea[1]. The diamonds in those times were so scarce, and esteemed so highly, as to be little known, except among princes, the smaller and most inferior kinds alone excepted. The pearls were the most costly jewels employed in the ornaments for the ears, the neck, and fingers of the fair sex, and the shells themselves were converted into various articles of finery for their wardrobe and furniture.

But it is not, as before observed, within our province in this place, to enter into any such latitude of explanation as an ample illustration of these remarks may be conceived to merit. It is our object only to express ourselves in general terms: it may be sufficient therefore to observe, that among the luxuries of the great in the times of Pliny, Oppian, and Juvenal, it is certain they indulged their peculiar taste in the study of these productions of the deep. They not only amassed together the more curious among those shells whose beauty attracted their regard, they entered also to some extent into their history and manners, and were sufficiently informed as to their natural properties to render them subservient to the general purposes of luxury and life. They knew the distinctions between the land, the fresh-water, and the marine tribes of shells, and they proceeded with minuteness and sometimes fully into their history. No classic reader of the Halieutics of Oppian will doubt the general acquaintance of the ancients with those beings in their native element, nor will any one imagine, who is conversant with the lives of the philosophers of the infant ages of the world, that the study of Conchology, even as a science, was unknown. So many writings of the ancients, even of the classic ages of Greece and Rome, have disappeared, that it may be now impossible to form any very accurate conclusions, at the same time that enough remains to justify our persuasion that it was far from inconsiderable. Among others, the works of Aristotle, the preceptor of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander, have survived the ravages of time, and very happily, for the history of human knowledge unfolds to us the views which the ancients had then taken of natural science, and among the rest of the science of Conchology; and there is, moreover, every reason to believe that in the classification of the testaceous tribes, or shells, which the writings of this philosopher present us, we, in reality, possess the arrangement of the shells composing the Conchological collection of that most potent monarch, the conqueror of the world:—the classical distribution of the shells of the great Alexander, as they were disposed by the most celebrated naturalist of his age, and at a period more remote than three centuries before the commencement of the Christian æra.