scholarly journals Neither slim nor fat: estimating the mass of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus, Aves, Columbiformes) based on the largest sample of dodo bones to date

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anneke H. van Heteren ◽  
Roland C.H. van Dierendonk ◽  
Maria A.N.E. van Egmond ◽  
Sjang L. ten Hagen ◽  
Jippe Kreuning
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Regression Method ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Vast Amount ◽  
Raphus Cucullatus ◽  
The Mean

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) might be the most enigmatic bird of all times. It is, therefore, highly remarkable that no consensus has yet been reached on its body mass; previous scientific estimates of its mass vary by more than 100%. Until now, the vast amount of bones stored at the Natural History Museum in Mauritius has not yet been studied morphometrically nor in relation to body mass. Here, a new estimate of the dodo’s mass is presented based on the largest sample of dodo femora ever measured (n = 174). In order to do this, we have used the regression method and chosen our variables based on biological, mathematical and physical arguments. The results indicate that the mean mass of the dodo was circa 12 kg, which is approximately five times as heavy as the largest living Columbidae (pigeons and doves), the clade to which the dodo belongs.

scholarly journals Address of the President, Sir William Bragg, O. M., at the anniversary meeting, 30 November 1939

1939 ◽  
Vol 128 (850) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
British Museum ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Early Age ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Vast Amount ◽  
The Past ◽  
The University

George Albert Boulenger was a student of the University of Brussels, his native city. He began at a very early age the study of reptiles, batrachians and fishes in the Natural History Museum at Brussels, and in 1880 became assistant naturalist there. In 1882, he was appointed a first class assistant in the Department of Zoology in the Britis Museum; he held this position until he retired in 1920. He has been described as a man of tremendous energy, an extremely methodical mind, and an amazing memory. These qualities were the foundation of the vast amount of work which he accomplished. He was one of the most distinguished of the descriptive biologists who have brought fame to the British Museum during the past hundred years. His most important contributions to science were the series of elaborate and detailed monographs, mostly published by the Museum. These still remain the basis of modern systematic work. They dealt with the groups of life which had interested him from the beginning, the batrachians, fishes, lizards, snakes and so forth. Thanks to his energy as a collector and as a stimulator of collectors, the Museum is rich in its possessions of these types; for example, it possesses an unparalleled collection of fresh water fishes.

Edward Heron-Allen FRS (1861–1943): a review of his scientific career, with an annotated bibliography of his foraminiferal publications

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Hodgkinson ◽  
John E. Whittaker
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Annotated Bibliography ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Scientific Career ◽  
History Museum ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT: In spite of his many other interests, Edward Heron-Allen also worked for nearly 50 years as a scientist on minute shelled protists, called foraminifera, much of it in an unpaid, unofficial capacity at The Natural History Museum, London, and notably in collaboration with Arthur Earland. During this career he published more than 70 papers and obtained several fellowships, culminating in 1919 in his election to the Royal Society. Subsequently, he bequeathed his foraminiferal collections and fine library to the Museum, and both are housed today in a room named in his honour. In this paper, for the first time, an assessment of his scientific accomplishments is given, together with a full annotated bibliography of his publications held in the Heron-Allen Library. This is part of a project to produce a bibliography of his complete publications, recently initiated by the Heron-Allen Society.

Some aspects of the work of Robert Brown and the Investigatornaturalists in Madeira during August 1801

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-394
Author(s):  
D. T. MOORE
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Atlantic Island

Robert Brown is best known for his Australian botanical work of 1801-1805 and for his activity as an early taxonomist and microscopist. However, he made botanical collections and observations on the Atlantic island of Madeira in August 1801 while on his way to Australia on Investigator. As the bicentenary of the voyage is now being celebrated this aspect of Brown's botanical career, and its aftermath, is examined. Some of his Madeiran collection –rass specimens – survive today in the Herbarium of the Natural History Museum, London (BM).

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