Spicilegia zoologica; or, original figures and short systematic descriptions of new and unfigured animals. Pt. I / By John Edward Gray.
- John Edward Gray
- Date:
- [1828]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Spicilegia zoologica; or, original figures and short systematic descriptions of new and unfigured animals. Pt. I / By John Edward Gray. Source: Wellcome Collection.
5/28 page 1
![Part L] [Price 7<y- /• im. Sjncilegia Zoologica; OR ORIGINAL FIGURES AND SHORT SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW AND UNFIGURED ANIMALS, Bv JOHN EDWARD GRAY, F.G.S. M.R.S.L. HONORARY MEMBER OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF COLCHESTER, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE MACLL’REAN LYCEUM, &C. &C. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY TREUTTEL, WURTZ AND CO., SOHO SQUARE; AND W. WOOD, STRAND. The author having had frequent occasion to lament the inconvenience to which he has been exposed by the want of an appropriate medium through which he might communicate to the Zoologists of this and other countries those novelties in science which have fallen under his observation, has at length determined upon publishing, from time to time at in- definite periods, a series of plates of new and unfigured Species, with short Latin and English Characters and De- scriptions. His object will be to render the proposed undertaking, as nearly as possible, similar in plan and character to the “ Spicilegia and “ Miscellanea Zoologica” of Pallas. He cannot, however, flatter himself that its scientific value will be by any means equal to that of those two admirable productions. To follow at an humble distance in the footsteps of so great a man, is all the honour to which he can aspire. It was his original intention to have printed only a limited number of copies for private distribution; but the wish to render it as generally accessible as possible, and the hope at the same time of repaying himself some portion of the expense, have induced him to extend his plan, and to submit it for public sale. The favour of specimens of animals or shells, or their loan, will be particularly acceptable; and such contributions shall in every instance be most scrupulously acknowledged. Each Part will generally contain from Three to Six Plates, and a sheet of closely-printed Letter-press. The Price of publication will be regulated by the Number of the Plates, and will be at the rate of Is. for each Plate, and the same for each sheet of Letter-press. MAMMALIA. Fam. SiMiAD^. Gen. Cynocephalus. Cynocephalus niger, Desm.—Niger; capite elongato, cristd com- pressd longd ornato; caiidd brevissimd, C. niger, Desm. Mamm. 534. Icon. t. 1,/. 2. Inhab. India? Mus. Brit. I have seen this animal alive in the Tower. Its colour is black ; the hair soft, that of the upper part of the head forming a com- pressed crest; face naked, black; tail *very short, tubercular j hands long, fingers short, black. Length of the body 2 feet, of the tail 1 inch. Fam. Cebid.®. Gen. Lagothrix. Lagothrix Humboldtii, Geoffr. P—Nigro-cinerascens; pilis mollis- simis, crispatis. Simia Lagothrix, Hiimb. Obs. Zool. 32. ? Lagothrix Humboldtii, Geoffr. Ann. Mus. xix. 107.? Gastrimargus olivaceus, Spix, Braz. t. 28 ? Icon. t. 1./. 1. Inhab. Brazil ? The drawing, for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. E. Griffith, was made by Landseer from a living specimen in Exeter 'Change. The animal was remarkably active, good-tempered, and obedient. Fam. Phocid®. Gen. Arctocephalus. Arctocephalus lobatus, n.—Osse frontali lato convexo; foramine occipitali ovali; maxilla inferiore rectd. Icon. ?. 4,/. 2. 2 a. Mus. D. Brookes. Inhab. The skull on which this species is founded differs from that of P. ursina (F. Cuv. Mdm. Mus. x. 1.15. f. 1; and G. Cuv. Oss. Foss. v. t. 18. f. 5.) in the greater breadth of the frontal bones; in the forehead being considerably more convex and arched; in the muzzle being thicker and more rounded, and the hinder margin of the lower jaw less angular, so as to allow the head to apply its whole length upon the table on which it is placed. The teeth are also rather more lobed on the edge. The sutures and outline of the bones correspond exactly with those of P. ursina. The comparative measurement of two skulls, apparently from animals of the same age, is as follows. Fhoca lobata. P. ursina. inches. inches. Length of the head from the occipital crest to the end of the nose 9 9 Breadth of the posterior part of the head across the petrous portions of the temporal bones .. 4^ 41- Breadth of the most contracted part of the frontal bone near the cerebral cavity ll I5 Breadth of the expanded superciliary processes of the frontal bone 3 2^ Greatest breadth of the condyles 1^ 2^ In all the other measurements both skulls accurately coincide with each other. Fam. Delphinid®. Subgen. 1. Delphinus, n.—Caput globosum; rostro depresso, ca- pite longiore. Dentes cylindrici, curvati. 1. Delphinus longirostris, n.—Osse palatino carinato, postice con- vexo ; rostro longissimo attenuato, supra depresso, lined medid elevatd; dentibus parvis utrinque fg^. Inhab. Cranium in Mus. D. Brookes. A](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22007556_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
