Some Birds Collected during the Voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur 1836-1842. John Gould’s Illustrations

John Gould FRS (1804-1881) was responsible for the text and illustrations in the section on birds in the Zoology volume, published in 1844.

Here is a selection of Gould’s paintings shown under their current names.

Long-tailed Manakin, Chiroxiphia linearis. Central America

Golden-collared Manakin, Manacus vitellinus, Central & South America

Pale-mandibled Aracari, Pteroglossus erythropygius, Ecuador & Peru

Madagascan Sandgrouse, Pterocles personatus, Madagascar

White-bellied Chachalaca, Ortelis leucogastra, Central America

Ultramarine Lorikeet, Vini ultramarina, Marquesas

Of the birds shown I have seen two in the wild, Madagascar Sandgrouse (2003) and the Critically-Endangered Ultramarine Lorikeet on Ua Huka, its last remaining location, in 2010.

The volumes from the voyage give some indication of the distance travelled and the places visited by Sulphur during its voyage and why, because of its length and the fact that she had taken part in a war, the crew were given extra pay and allowances. I found this map showing the route round the world and have emphasised it using a red overlay:

Some Mammals Collected during the Voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur 1836-1842. Some Original Colour Plates

I mentioned in my last post the extensive collections made by the captains and assistant surgeon of the Royal Navy’s survey ship Sulphur, a small bomb ship (i.e. equipped with deck-mounted mortars for long-range fire rather than cannon) together with the fact that the Assistant Surgeon, later Surgeon, Richard Brinsley Hinds FRCS, took on the responsibility of editing and superintending the publications arising from that epic voyage around the world. The Lords of the Admiralty met the costs of publication - not the only occasion, I submit, to thank the Navy.

The section on mammals in the Zoology volume, published in 1844, was written by John Edward Gray FRS. Keeper of Zoology at the Natural History Museum in London from 1840 until 1974. 

I cannot resist showing some of the illustrations from that volume. They are by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807-1894) best known for sculpting the dinosaurs at Crystal Palace. Bear in mind that he had not seen the living animals and was working from the skins and skulls sent back to London.

The mammals are shown under their present names, not those used by Gray.

Golden-faced and White-faced Saki Pithecia chrysocephala and P. pithecia, South America

Rio Tupajós or Gray's Saki, Pithecia irrorata

Crowned Lemur, Eulemur coronatus, northern Madagascar

Wrinkle-faced Bat, Centurio senex, Central America

Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata, the Americas

Raccoon, Procyon lotor psora. California subspecies

Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus californicus