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Julian Hume

Natural History Museum, London, Life Sciences, Post-Doc

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Having completed an undergraduate degree in paleontology at the University of Portsmouth, followed by a PhD on the extinct birds of the Mascarenes at the Natural History Museum (NHM), London, Julian Hume is also a self-taught artist specializing in reconstructing extinct birds. This not only provided an opportunity to discover new fossil species and scientifically describe them but also to artistically illustrate the birds as they may have appeared in life.

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Julian D Reynolds

Trinity College Dublin

Kristen J Gremillion

Ohio State University

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Kansas State University

University of East London

Jose Ruben Guzman-Gutierrez

Universidad Humanista de las Americas

Armando Marques-Guedes

UNL - New University of Lisbon

University of Maryland

Appalachian State University

Swansea University

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Papers by Julian Hume

Deterministic assembly and anthropogenic extinctions drive convergence of island bird communities

Global Ecology and Biogeography

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific r... more HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Dr Ayres and the first fossil dodo bone

Historical Biology, Nov 14, 2023

Five years before the discovery in 1865 of Dodo Raphus cucullatus fossil remains at the Mare aux ... more Five years before the discovery in 1865 of Dodo Raphus cucullatus fossil remains at the Mare aux Songes, Mauritius, local physician Philip Ayres had inadvertently unearthed a fragmented dodo bone from an unknown cave in the Black River District, south of the capital Port Louis. The bone got muddled with fossil material from the dodo&#39;s closest relative, the Solitaire Pezophaps solitaria, before being sent to comparative anatomist Richard Owen at the then British Museum. Denied access by Owen to these specimens when compiling data for their Solitaire osteological monograph, comparative anatomist Alfred Newton and his brother Edward were understandably enraged, which resulted in some bad-tempered correspondence between them and Owen. Rather, inexplicably, Owen never scientifically described the Ayres dodo bone, now ignored for over 170 years, and its identification to element type is still in doubt. Here, I describe the probable cave in which this Dodo fossil was discovered, its true identification, the correspondence between Ayres, the Newton brothers and Owen, and the likely reasons why Owen did not follow up Ayres&#39;s discovery.

The correct publication date of Aplonis corvina (Kittlitz, 1833)

Eggs of extinct dwarf island emus retained large size

Biology Letters, May 1, 2021

Islands off southern Australia once harboured three subspecies of the mainland emu (Dromaius nova... more Islands off southern Australia once harboured three subspecies of the mainland emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), the smaller Tasmanian emu (D. n. diemenensis) and two dwarf emus, King Island emu (D. n. minor) and Kangaroo Island emu (D. n. baudinianus), which all became extinct rapidly after discovery by European settlers. Little was recorded about their life histories and only a few historical museum specimens exist, including a number of complete eggs from Tasmania and a unique egg from Kangaroo Island. Here, we present a detailed analysis of eggs of dwarf emus, including the first record of an almost complete specimen from King Island. Our results show that despite the reduction in size of all island emus, especially the King Island emu that averaged 44% smaller than mainland birds, the egg remained similar sized in linear measurements, but less in volume and mass, and seemingly had a slightly thinner eggshell. We provide possible reasons why these phenomena occurred.

The Correct Publication Date of Aplonis Corvina (Kittlitz, 1833)

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 2003

Notes on Early Illustrations and the Juvenile Plumage of the Extinct Hawaii Mamo Drepanis Pacifica (Drepanidini)

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 2009

The earliest published illustrations of the extinct Hawaii Mamo Drepanis pacifica are probably al... more The earliest published illustrations of the extinct Hawaii Mamo Drepanis pacifica are probably all based on one or two adult specimens originating during Cook's third voyage and the variation between them does not reflect variation in plumage. Two unremarked specimens of Hawaii Mamo in the Paris Museum are in a transitional plumage showing that this species had a previously unknown juvenile plumage in which the black feathers of the adult were dark brown. This fact has further implications for the plumage sequence of other species of the black-and-red clade of Drepanidini. The brilliant black-and-yellow Hawaii Mamo Drepanis pacifica was of cultural significance to native Hawaiians for making their feather artefacts (Brigham 1899), but the species is now extinct and is among the rarest of Hawaiian birds in museum collections.

The Dodo: from extinction to the fossil record

Geology Today, Jul 1, 2012

The dodo, Raphus cucullatus (Aves, Columbidae), has become one of the most famous birds in the wo... more The dodo, Raphus cucullatus (Aves, Columbidae), has become one of the most famous birds in the world, a true icon of extinction. Known from a few contemporary illustrations and accounts, probably more has been written about it than any other species, yet we know practically nothing about the bird in life. Recent excavations on Mauritius are now revealing the ecology and habitat of this iconic bird, and providing new information as to why it was so vulnerable to human interference.

The history of the Dodo<i>Raphus cucullatus</i>and the penguin of Mauritius

Historical Biology, 2006

More has been written about the dodo Raphus cucullatus of Mauritius than any other bird. However,... more More has been written about the dodo Raphus cucullatus of Mauritius than any other bird. However, much of the information has been derived from few genuine but inadequate contemporary accounts and illustrations, yet a wealth of assumptions and over zealous misinterpretation about dodos' ecology and morphology has taken place. Here all aspects of the dodo's ecological history, contemporary accounts and illustrations, importation of specimens and fossil record are examined, and evidence is provided to suggest that many conclusions based on the available data are problematic.

The Morphology of the Thirioux dodos

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Nov 19, 2015

Despite its status as an icon of extinction and relatively recent disappearance, our knowledge of... more Despite its status as an icon of extinction and relatively recent disappearance, our knowledge of the anatomy of the dodo has been hampered by a scarcity of preserved remains. The handful of dodo relics that survive from collections made prior to the bird's extinction consist solely of cranial and pedal materials, whereas other dodo skeletons preserved in museum collections are incomplete composites, constructed from subfossil skeletal remains discovered since 1865 at the Mare aux Songes locality. Here we describe the skeletal anatomy of two exceptional dodo specimens, collected around 1904 by amateur naturalist Louis Etienne Thirioux in the caves and crevasses surrounding Le Pouce, which have escaped detailed scientific analysis until now. The Port Louis specimen appears to consist of the skeletal remains of a single bird and is essentially complete, whereas the Durban specimen has been constructed from a limited number of birds but contains many bones that appear to be associated. The Port Louis specimen provides the first information regarding relative skeletal proportions of the dodo. Unique skeletal elements that were unknown or never described scientifically before include the patella, tarsal sesamoids, ulnare and radiale, and distal wing phalanges. The anatomy of the Thirioux dodos supports recent reinterpretations of the dodo as a resilient bird that was well adapted to the Mauritian ecosystem.

A new fossil subspecies of booby (Aves, Sulidae: Papasula) from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands, with notes on P. abbotti from Assumption Island

Zootaxa, Apr 21, 2023

A new subspecies of Papasula booby is described from fossil remains collected in the Mascarene Is... more A new subspecies of Papasula booby is described from fossil remains collected in the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, southwestern Indian Ocean. The Mascarene Booby Papasula abbotti nelsoni ssp. nov., larger than nominate abbott&#39;s Booby P. a. abbotti from Christmas Island, northeast Indian Ocean, was approximately the same size as the extinct Hiva Oa Booby P. a. costelloi from the Marquesas in the Eastern Pacific. Mentioned in early accounts of Mauritius in 1668 and in 1725-26 and 1761 on Rodrigues, the Mascarene booby became extinct by the end of the 18th century. Members of another isolated but now extirpated population of Papasula abbotti from assumption Island in the Seychelles archipelago, the island from which the type specimen was collected, are identical to extant Christmas Island birds in size and colouration and discussed in detail herein.

A new Neogene marine avian assemblage from north-central Chile

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Aug 22, 2001

Robert Whytlaw-Gray, 1877-1958

Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Nov 1, 1958

Whytlaw-Gray received his early education at St Paul's School; very little science was taught in ... more Whytlaw-Gray received his early education at St Paul's School; very little science was taught in those days, but he carried out chemical experiments in a cupboard in his sisters' schoblroom at home at the age of about twelve. His father wanted him to go into the Army and he sat for the entrance examina tion, but failed through complete lack of interest, distinguishing himself only by coming out top of the list in chemistry. When he was eighteen he started on an engineering course in the University of Glasgow, where he and his younger sister lived with his grandparents, who now resided there, while his father took his mother and elder sister with him on a business visit to Australia. He there attended lectures by Lord Kelvin, and it was there also that he first heard Sir William Ramsay, who came to the University to give a lecture, and determined to enter University College, London, to study under him. In 1896, his father having returned to London, he was able to do this. The first year's work included chemistry, physics, zoology, botany, and mathematics. Ramsay lectured on four days a week during three terms, but practical chemistry amounted to no more than brief periods of 'test tubing', taught in class by E. C. C. Baly. In 1897 Whytlaw-Gray joined Ramsay's and Collie's classes in physical and organic chemistry respectively, and had a place in the main laboratory. M. W. Travers, who had charge of the labora tory, remembers Baly telling him that 'that good-looking young fellow Gray is the best of the lot'. He proved so to be, and in June 1898 he won the Tufnell Scholarship in chemistry. Ramsay's method of laboratory instruction consisted partly in setting senior students problems to solve, and in November 1898 Whytlaw-Gray met with an accident in the course of a diazotization which was part of an

Provenance and history of the Thirioux dodos

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Nov 19, 2015

The exact provenance of the two associated dodo skeletons collected in the vicinity of Port Louis... more The exact provenance of the two associated dodo skeletons collected in the vicinity of Port Louis, Mauritius, around the turn of the 19th century is shrouded in mystery, as well as their collector, the amateur naturalist and barber Louis Etienne Thirioux (1846-1917). The most complete specimen resides in the Mauritius Institute, Port Louis, whereas the second, which is a partial composite, is in the Durban Natural Science Museum (South Africa). Early correspondence between Thirioux and Alfred Newton, Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at Cambridge University, detailed museum records kept by Ernest Chubb from the Durban Natural Science Museum, and early photographic records of Thirioux's finds shed some light on the early history of the specimens. The Port Louis specimen appears to consist of the bones of a single bird, apart from what appear to be an extra pair of lacrimals, and is essentially complete, including, for instance, the wrist bones, the patella, and the tarsal sesamoid, with the sole exception of the phalanx digiti minoris (present in the Durban specimen). These elements have never been described or illustrated before. The Durban specimen contains elements that most likely derived from a very small number of birds, possibly as few as two. Records indicate that some reconstruction has been undertaken on the Durban specimen, including the discarding of a cervical vertebra. However, regardless of unanswered questions regarding the history and provenance of the Thirioux dodo specimens, they represent the most complete, associated skeletal remains in existence.

The Oxford Dodo. Part 2: from curiosity to icon and its role in displays, education and research

Historical Biology, Mar 10, 2016

Abstract The Tradescant or Oxford Dodo has played an important role in exhibition and education t... more Abstract The Tradescant or Oxford Dodo has played an important role in exhibition and education throughout its 360-year history, and has been the subject of scientific research reflecting changing interests and techniques over this time. Due to confusion over its relationships, its placement in the classification systems continually changed, until the dissection in 1847 of the head and foot confirmed its columbid (pigeons and doves) affinities. Here, we describe the dissection of the head and foot and the Tradescant Dodo’s display history, from the late nineteenth century until the present day, and also its use in education. We discuss the importance of the Tradescant Dodo to Lewis Carroll, whose ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ made the dodo aware to a worldwide audience. We further provide an overview of recent work including electron microscopic study of feathers, mDNA analysis, cytological investigation of the skin and measuring of the brain capacity, all of which have added to our knowledge of the evolution and ecology of this most extraordinary of birds. Research is ongoing; the Tradescant Dodo is presently subject to CT scanning and functional analysis. This is the second part of a two-part paper.

A new subfossil ground thrush (Turdidae: Geokichla) from Mauritius, Mascarene Islands

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Dec 7, 2022

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more

Living dinosaurs: the evolutionary history of modern birds, edited by GarethDyke and GaryKaiser. Wiley, Chichester, 2011. No. of pages: xv+422. Price: UK£25-00. ISBN 978-0-4706-5666-2 (hardback)

Geological Journal, Apr 23, 2012

New discoveries from old sources, with reference to the original bird and mammal fauna of the Mascarene Islands, Indian Ocean

Zoologische Mededelingen, 2005

The faunal history of the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues) has been extensive... more The faunal history of the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues) has been extensively documented, with most information being derived from the fossil record, museum skins, the journals and logbooks of early mariners and contemporary illustrations. However, our research on original sources, including Dutch journals held at The Hague, and archival correspondence and fossil collections, notably at The Natural History Museum, London, and the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, indicates that many problems remain to be resolved. This situation has been exacerbated by exchange schemes amongst museums, personal rivalries, misidentification, lack of comparative material, and inadequate provenance of specimens; furthermore, problematic and unidentifiable fossil remains have been ignored or lumped with other species. Among other topics, new information is presented on the discovery of the famous Mare aux Songes fossil deposit on Mauritius. The Mascarene Islands epitomize the potential for new discoveries from old collections, even within the largest and most modern institutions.

Notes on the Extinct Kosrae Starling Aplonis Corvina Kittlitz, 1833

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 2002

Osteological and historical data on extinct island night herons (Aves: Ardeidae), with special reference to Ascension Island, the Mascarenes and Bonin Islands

Geobios, Jul 1, 2023

Night herons of the genus Nycticorax and Nyctanassa are adept island colonisers, occurring on a n... more Night herons of the genus Nycticorax and Nyctanassa are adept island colonisers, occurring on a number of oceanic islands and island archipelagos. Continental species and those inhabiting large islands are generally not considered threatened, whereas night herons restricted to small, oceanic islands are particularly vulnerable to human interference. As a result, six out of nine described species and one subspecies, all derived from Nycticorax nycticorax, Nycticorax caledonicus or Nyctanassa violacea, are now extinct whereas a further three extinct species await description. The extinct island endemics generally exhibit morphological adaptations to an insular environment and diet, such as an increase or decrease in size, robust jaws and legs, and smaller wings with associated reduced flying ability than founding stock. Here I present an osteological comparison along with historical descriptions of the extinct, oceanic island night herons, with special reference to the Mascarene and Ascension fossil species, and Bonin Island subspecies, and show the degree of morphological changes between the founding and island taxa. I further discuss the reasons why they became extinct.

The diet, and pellet residue taphonomy, of Barn Owls <i>Tyto alba</i> on a Greek island reveals an exceptional diversity of avian prey

Acrocephalus, Nov 1, 2020

Barn Owl Tyto alba pellets and loose bones on a cave floor from Amorgos (Cyclades, Greece) were e... more Barn Owl Tyto alba pellets and loose bones on a cave floor from Amorgos (Cyclades, Greece) were examined and the birds found to have caught at least 39 species of bird, mostly identified from humeri, plus shrews Crocidura suaveolens, a few lizards and dung beetles, in addition to their principal diet of rodents (rats Rattus rattus, mice Apodemus spp. & Mus musculus). Amongst the birds, migrants appeared most vulnerable to owl predation, with some notable exceptions, while resident species were under-represented. The range of bird species found appears to be the largest recorded for any Barn Owl study of a single site. Considerable differences were found in species proportions of taxa in fresh pellets and in loose bones, probably due to differential rates of degradation. Photographs of all humeri are included to aid identification in other studies.

Deterministic assembly and anthropogenic extinctions drive convergence of island bird communities

Global Ecology and Biogeography

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific r... more HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Dr Ayres and the first fossil dodo bone

Historical Biology, Nov 14, 2023

Five years before the discovery in 1865 of Dodo Raphus cucullatus fossil remains at the Mare aux ... more Five years before the discovery in 1865 of Dodo Raphus cucullatus fossil remains at the Mare aux Songes, Mauritius, local physician Philip Ayres had inadvertently unearthed a fragmented dodo bone from an unknown cave in the Black River District, south of the capital Port Louis. The bone got muddled with fossil material from the dodo&#39;s closest relative, the Solitaire Pezophaps solitaria, before being sent to comparative anatomist Richard Owen at the then British Museum. Denied access by Owen to these specimens when compiling data for their Solitaire osteological monograph, comparative anatomist Alfred Newton and his brother Edward were understandably enraged, which resulted in some bad-tempered correspondence between them and Owen. Rather, inexplicably, Owen never scientifically described the Ayres dodo bone, now ignored for over 170 years, and its identification to element type is still in doubt. Here, I describe the probable cave in which this Dodo fossil was discovered, its true identification, the correspondence between Ayres, the Newton brothers and Owen, and the likely reasons why Owen did not follow up Ayres&#39;s discovery.

The correct publication date of Aplonis corvina (Kittlitz, 1833)

Eggs of extinct dwarf island emus retained large size

Biology Letters, May 1, 2021

Islands off southern Australia once harboured three subspecies of the mainland emu (Dromaius nova... more Islands off southern Australia once harboured three subspecies of the mainland emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), the smaller Tasmanian emu (D. n. diemenensis) and two dwarf emus, King Island emu (D. n. minor) and Kangaroo Island emu (D. n. baudinianus), which all became extinct rapidly after discovery by European settlers. Little was recorded about their life histories and only a few historical museum specimens exist, including a number of complete eggs from Tasmania and a unique egg from Kangaroo Island. Here, we present a detailed analysis of eggs of dwarf emus, including the first record of an almost complete specimen from King Island. Our results show that despite the reduction in size of all island emus, especially the King Island emu that averaged 44% smaller than mainland birds, the egg remained similar sized in linear measurements, but less in volume and mass, and seemingly had a slightly thinner eggshell. We provide possible reasons why these phenomena occurred.

The Correct Publication Date of Aplonis Corvina (Kittlitz, 1833)

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 2003

Notes on Early Illustrations and the Juvenile Plumage of the Extinct Hawaii Mamo Drepanis Pacifica (Drepanidini)

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 2009

The earliest published illustrations of the extinct Hawaii Mamo Drepanis pacifica are probably al... more The earliest published illustrations of the extinct Hawaii Mamo Drepanis pacifica are probably all based on one or two adult specimens originating during Cook's third voyage and the variation between them does not reflect variation in plumage. Two unremarked specimens of Hawaii Mamo in the Paris Museum are in a transitional plumage showing that this species had a previously unknown juvenile plumage in which the black feathers of the adult were dark brown. This fact has further implications for the plumage sequence of other species of the black-and-red clade of Drepanidini. The brilliant black-and-yellow Hawaii Mamo Drepanis pacifica was of cultural significance to native Hawaiians for making their feather artefacts (Brigham 1899), but the species is now extinct and is among the rarest of Hawaiian birds in museum collections.

The Dodo: from extinction to the fossil record

Geology Today, Jul 1, 2012

The dodo, Raphus cucullatus (Aves, Columbidae), has become one of the most famous birds in the wo... more The dodo, Raphus cucullatus (Aves, Columbidae), has become one of the most famous birds in the world, a true icon of extinction. Known from a few contemporary illustrations and accounts, probably more has been written about it than any other species, yet we know practically nothing about the bird in life. Recent excavations on Mauritius are now revealing the ecology and habitat of this iconic bird, and providing new information as to why it was so vulnerable to human interference.

The history of the Dodo<i>Raphus cucullatus</i>and the penguin of Mauritius

Historical Biology, 2006

More has been written about the dodo Raphus cucullatus of Mauritius than any other bird. However,... more More has been written about the dodo Raphus cucullatus of Mauritius than any other bird. However, much of the information has been derived from few genuine but inadequate contemporary accounts and illustrations, yet a wealth of assumptions and over zealous misinterpretation about dodos' ecology and morphology has taken place. Here all aspects of the dodo's ecological history, contemporary accounts and illustrations, importation of specimens and fossil record are examined, and evidence is provided to suggest that many conclusions based on the available data are problematic.

The Morphology of the Thirioux dodos

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Nov 19, 2015

Despite its status as an icon of extinction and relatively recent disappearance, our knowledge of... more Despite its status as an icon of extinction and relatively recent disappearance, our knowledge of the anatomy of the dodo has been hampered by a scarcity of preserved remains. The handful of dodo relics that survive from collections made prior to the bird's extinction consist solely of cranial and pedal materials, whereas other dodo skeletons preserved in museum collections are incomplete composites, constructed from subfossil skeletal remains discovered since 1865 at the Mare aux Songes locality. Here we describe the skeletal anatomy of two exceptional dodo specimens, collected around 1904 by amateur naturalist Louis Etienne Thirioux in the caves and crevasses surrounding Le Pouce, which have escaped detailed scientific analysis until now. The Port Louis specimen appears to consist of the skeletal remains of a single bird and is essentially complete, whereas the Durban specimen has been constructed from a limited number of birds but contains many bones that appear to be associated. The Port Louis specimen provides the first information regarding relative skeletal proportions of the dodo. Unique skeletal elements that were unknown or never described scientifically before include the patella, tarsal sesamoids, ulnare and radiale, and distal wing phalanges. The anatomy of the Thirioux dodos supports recent reinterpretations of the dodo as a resilient bird that was well adapted to the Mauritian ecosystem.

A new fossil subspecies of booby (Aves, Sulidae: Papasula) from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands, with notes on P. abbotti from Assumption Island

Zootaxa, Apr 21, 2023

A new subspecies of Papasula booby is described from fossil remains collected in the Mascarene Is... more A new subspecies of Papasula booby is described from fossil remains collected in the Mascarene Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, southwestern Indian Ocean. The Mascarene Booby Papasula abbotti nelsoni ssp. nov., larger than nominate abbott&#39;s Booby P. a. abbotti from Christmas Island, northeast Indian Ocean, was approximately the same size as the extinct Hiva Oa Booby P. a. costelloi from the Marquesas in the Eastern Pacific. Mentioned in early accounts of Mauritius in 1668 and in 1725-26 and 1761 on Rodrigues, the Mascarene booby became extinct by the end of the 18th century. Members of another isolated but now extirpated population of Papasula abbotti from assumption Island in the Seychelles archipelago, the island from which the type specimen was collected, are identical to extant Christmas Island birds in size and colouration and discussed in detail herein.

A new Neogene marine avian assemblage from north-central Chile

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Aug 22, 2001

Robert Whytlaw-Gray, 1877-1958

Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Nov 1, 1958

Whytlaw-Gray received his early education at St Paul's School; very little science was taught in ... more Whytlaw-Gray received his early education at St Paul's School; very little science was taught in those days, but he carried out chemical experiments in a cupboard in his sisters' schoblroom at home at the age of about twelve. His father wanted him to go into the Army and he sat for the entrance examina tion, but failed through complete lack of interest, distinguishing himself only by coming out top of the list in chemistry. When he was eighteen he started on an engineering course in the University of Glasgow, where he and his younger sister lived with his grandparents, who now resided there, while his father took his mother and elder sister with him on a business visit to Australia. He there attended lectures by Lord Kelvin, and it was there also that he first heard Sir William Ramsay, who came to the University to give a lecture, and determined to enter University College, London, to study under him. In 1896, his father having returned to London, he was able to do this. The first year's work included chemistry, physics, zoology, botany, and mathematics. Ramsay lectured on four days a week during three terms, but practical chemistry amounted to no more than brief periods of 'test tubing', taught in class by E. C. C. Baly. In 1897 Whytlaw-Gray joined Ramsay's and Collie's classes in physical and organic chemistry respectively, and had a place in the main laboratory. M. W. Travers, who had charge of the labora tory, remembers Baly telling him that 'that good-looking young fellow Gray is the best of the lot'. He proved so to be, and in June 1898 he won the Tufnell Scholarship in chemistry. Ramsay's method of laboratory instruction consisted partly in setting senior students problems to solve, and in November 1898 Whytlaw-Gray met with an accident in the course of a diazotization which was part of an

Provenance and history of the Thirioux dodos

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Nov 19, 2015

The exact provenance of the two associated dodo skeletons collected in the vicinity of Port Louis... more The exact provenance of the two associated dodo skeletons collected in the vicinity of Port Louis, Mauritius, around the turn of the 19th century is shrouded in mystery, as well as their collector, the amateur naturalist and barber Louis Etienne Thirioux (1846-1917). The most complete specimen resides in the Mauritius Institute, Port Louis, whereas the second, which is a partial composite, is in the Durban Natural Science Museum (South Africa). Early correspondence between Thirioux and Alfred Newton, Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at Cambridge University, detailed museum records kept by Ernest Chubb from the Durban Natural Science Museum, and early photographic records of Thirioux's finds shed some light on the early history of the specimens. The Port Louis specimen appears to consist of the bones of a single bird, apart from what appear to be an extra pair of lacrimals, and is essentially complete, including, for instance, the wrist bones, the patella, and the tarsal sesamoid, with the sole exception of the phalanx digiti minoris (present in the Durban specimen). These elements have never been described or illustrated before. The Durban specimen contains elements that most likely derived from a very small number of birds, possibly as few as two. Records indicate that some reconstruction has been undertaken on the Durban specimen, including the discarding of a cervical vertebra. However, regardless of unanswered questions regarding the history and provenance of the Thirioux dodo specimens, they represent the most complete, associated skeletal remains in existence.

The Oxford Dodo. Part 2: from curiosity to icon and its role in displays, education and research

Historical Biology, Mar 10, 2016

Abstract The Tradescant or Oxford Dodo has played an important role in exhibition and education t... more Abstract The Tradescant or Oxford Dodo has played an important role in exhibition and education throughout its 360-year history, and has been the subject of scientific research reflecting changing interests and techniques over this time. Due to confusion over its relationships, its placement in the classification systems continually changed, until the dissection in 1847 of the head and foot confirmed its columbid (pigeons and doves) affinities. Here, we describe the dissection of the head and foot and the Tradescant Dodo’s display history, from the late nineteenth century until the present day, and also its use in education. We discuss the importance of the Tradescant Dodo to Lewis Carroll, whose ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ made the dodo aware to a worldwide audience. We further provide an overview of recent work including electron microscopic study of feathers, mDNA analysis, cytological investigation of the skin and measuring of the brain capacity, all of which have added to our knowledge of the evolution and ecology of this most extraordinary of birds. Research is ongoing; the Tradescant Dodo is presently subject to CT scanning and functional analysis. This is the second part of a two-part paper.

A new subfossil ground thrush (Turdidae: Geokichla) from Mauritius, Mascarene Islands

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, Dec 7, 2022

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more

Living dinosaurs: the evolutionary history of modern birds, edited by GarethDyke and GaryKaiser. Wiley, Chichester, 2011. No. of pages: xv+422. Price: UK£25-00. ISBN 978-0-4706-5666-2 (hardback)

Geological Journal, Apr 23, 2012

New discoveries from old sources, with reference to the original bird and mammal fauna of the Mascarene Islands, Indian Ocean

Zoologische Mededelingen, 2005

The faunal history of the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues) has been extensive... more The faunal history of the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues) has been extensively documented, with most information being derived from the fossil record, museum skins, the journals and logbooks of early mariners and contemporary illustrations. However, our research on original sources, including Dutch journals held at The Hague, and archival correspondence and fossil collections, notably at The Natural History Museum, London, and the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, indicates that many problems remain to be resolved. This situation has been exacerbated by exchange schemes amongst museums, personal rivalries, misidentification, lack of comparative material, and inadequate provenance of specimens; furthermore, problematic and unidentifiable fossil remains have been ignored or lumped with other species. Among other topics, new information is presented on the discovery of the famous Mare aux Songes fossil deposit on Mauritius. The Mascarene Islands epitomize the potential for new discoveries from old collections, even within the largest and most modern institutions.

Notes on the Extinct Kosrae Starling Aplonis Corvina Kittlitz, 1833

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 2002

Osteological and historical data on extinct island night herons (Aves: Ardeidae), with special reference to Ascension Island, the Mascarenes and Bonin Islands

Geobios, Jul 1, 2023

Night herons of the genus Nycticorax and Nyctanassa are adept island colonisers, occurring on a n... more Night herons of the genus Nycticorax and Nyctanassa are adept island colonisers, occurring on a number of oceanic islands and island archipelagos. Continental species and those inhabiting large islands are generally not considered threatened, whereas night herons restricted to small, oceanic islands are particularly vulnerable to human interference. As a result, six out of nine described species and one subspecies, all derived from Nycticorax nycticorax, Nycticorax caledonicus or Nyctanassa violacea, are now extinct whereas a further three extinct species await description. The extinct island endemics generally exhibit morphological adaptations to an insular environment and diet, such as an increase or decrease in size, robust jaws and legs, and smaller wings with associated reduced flying ability than founding stock. Here I present an osteological comparison along with historical descriptions of the extinct, oceanic island night herons, with special reference to the Mascarene and Ascension fossil species, and Bonin Island subspecies, and show the degree of morphological changes between the founding and island taxa. I further discuss the reasons why they became extinct.

The diet, and pellet residue taphonomy, of Barn Owls <i>Tyto alba</i> on a Greek island reveals an exceptional diversity of avian prey

Acrocephalus, Nov 1, 2020

Barn Owl Tyto alba pellets and loose bones on a cave floor from Amorgos (Cyclades, Greece) were e... more Barn Owl Tyto alba pellets and loose bones on a cave floor from Amorgos (Cyclades, Greece) were examined and the birds found to have caught at least 39 species of bird, mostly identified from humeri, plus shrews Crocidura suaveolens, a few lizards and dung beetles, in addition to their principal diet of rodents (rats Rattus rattus, mice Apodemus spp. & Mus musculus). Amongst the birds, migrants appeared most vulnerable to owl predation, with some notable exceptions, while resident species were under-represented. The range of bird species found appears to be the largest recorded for any Barn Owl study of a single site. Considerable differences were found in species proportions of taxa in fresh pellets and in loose bones, probably due to differential rates of degradation. Photographs of all humeri are included to aid identification in other studies.