Zoology
Zoology (noun)
zoo-ol-ə-jee
Meaning:
The study of animals.
Purpose:
Zoology is important for understanding animal evolution (both current and extinct), their genes, habits and how they interact with ecosystems.
The Zoology Collection
Many of the specimens in the collection date to the 19th century and were collected by museum curators, along with donations from honorary curators such as Henry Baker Tristram (1822-1906). William Proctor (1798-1877), the first curator, is renowned for his expedition to Iceland to collect bird specimens.
When the Museum closed in the early 20th century, some collections were disposed of, while others were distributed to various departments and colleges.
In 1924, the Dawson Building became the new home of the Zoology Department. Zoology used to be taught next to Botany in the Dawson Building (now home to the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology). The tradition of using collections for teaching and research continued as the department collected specimens from around the world.
Image: Archival photograph of the exterior of the Dawson Building, during the time this wing belonged to the Zoology Department.
Image: Archival photograph of the exterior of the Dawson Building, during the time this wing belonged to the Zoology Department.
Some specimens in the collection highlight its educational purpose. For instance, on this nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) the carapace (shell) has been separated to display the skeleton which is usually hidden underneath their armour-like shell.
Image: Mounted specimen of a nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus).
Image: Mounted specimen of a nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus).
The Whitehead Collection
Captain George Kenneth Whitehead
Kenneth Whitehead (1913-2004) was a hunter, author and conservationist who shot game throughout the world. He became renowned as one of the foremost experts on deer, writing numerous books and producing extensive photographic and videographic material on the subject.
The Whitehead Collection focuses mainly on the Cervidae (deer) family and includes specimens from England as well as Thailand, India and South America. While some specimens were personally collected by Whitehead, much of his collection was acquired through auctions and donations, including contributions from the Sir E. Loder and J.G. Millais Collections.
Hunting, as practised in the past, is viewed very differently today and raises ethical questions. However, during his time, Whitehead was considered progressive in his approach. He strongly opposed the use of shotguns for deer hunting, believing it caused unnecessary suffering, and his efforts helped lead to the 1963 Deer Act, which made the practice illegal.
Upon Whitehead’s death, the collection was bequeathed to Durham University.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of a Schomburgk's deer (Rucervus schomburgki) antlers, collected from Thailand in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of a Schomburgk's deer (Rucervus schomburgki) antlers, collected from Thailand in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of an Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) collected from Sulawesi in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of an Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) collected from Sulawesi in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of a Manchurian Wapiti or Izubra (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus). Collected from the Upper Yenisey, a river in Mongolia and Russia, in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of a Manchurian Wapiti or Izubra (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus). Collected from the Upper Yenisey, a river in Mongolia and Russia, in the 19th century.
A taxidermy head of a European Bison (Bison bonasus). Collected from Nebraska, United States in the 19th century.
A taxidermy head of a European Bison (Bison bonasus). Collected from Nebraska, United States in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of an Argali or Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) from the Tian Shan Mountain range in Central Asian.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of an Argali or Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) from the Tian Shan Mountain range in Central Asian.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of an Eld's Deer (Rucervus eldii). Collected from Thailand in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of an Eld's Deer (Rucervus eldii). Collected from Thailand in the 19th century.
A large mounted antler and skull specimen of a Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Collected from India in the 19th century.
A large mounted antler and skull specimen of a Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Collected from India in the 19th century.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of a Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) from the Gold Coast in West Africa, dating to 1945.
A mounted skull and antler specimen of a Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) from the Gold Coast in West Africa, dating to 1945.
Meet Nigel, our Giant Irish Elk!
Megaloceros giganteus
Donated to Durham University in 2004, this specimen affectionately known as Nigel, is part of the Whitehead (formerly the E. Loder) Collection.
The Giant Irish Elk, also known as Giant Deer, are an extinct species of deer (not elk) that lived around 8,000 years ago. They are considered the largest species of deer to have ever existed.
They are called Irish Elks due to the large number of skeletons discovered in Ireland’s marshlands, where the waterlogged conditions have preserved their skeletons.
The impressive wingspan (total width from one tip of the antlers to the other) is what captures your attention, typically measuring between 3 and 4 metres and weighing up to 40kg!
That's the same as having a 40-inch TV on each side of their head!
By the 1960s, much of Loder's collection had been acquired by Guy Walter Otter. This collection was housed in a large building specially constructed by Otter’s father, Walter William Otter, for its display.
However, after Otter’s father passed away in 1940, the building was requisitioned for use during World War II. It suffered significant damage from a break-in and subsequently fell into disrepair, causing many of the specimens to deteriorate.
Following these events, Whitehead acquired the Loder Collection through his correspondence with Guy Otter.
Taxidermy
Taxidermy (noun)
/ˈtaksɪˌdəːmi/
Meaning:
The art and science of preparing and preserving the skins of animals.
Purpose:
Preserving the body of an animal using specialised techniques. The specimens and their associated data are valuable for scientific study, offering insights into both past and present ecologies and landscapes.
The Taxidermy Collection features a diverse range of preserved animals, from individual birds to entire porcupine which were mostly collected in the 19th-century.
We have around 150 taxidermy specimens in the collection. Some of these, such as the deer, goat and sheep, are from the Whitehead Collection, while others show animals in their natural environments and are usually in a glass-fronted cases dating to the 19th century.
Index cards and archival photographs from the Zoology Department indicate that many of these 19th century specimens were used for display within the department, with teaching and research materials added later.
Image: Archival photo of the main staircase inside the Dawson Building during the 1970s.
Image: Archival photo of the main staircase inside the Dawson Building during the 1970s.
Taxidermy is a practice that dates back to Ancient Egypt, but was extensively used from the 18th century by European explorers to show the animals they encountered in far away places.
Image: Otter on all fours with fish in mouth, in a box with a basic habitat-like base and white painted background.
During the Victorian period, taxidermy featured a trend of placing animals, often in groups, within artistic settings that mimicked their natural habitat. These displays were commonly arranged in wooden boxes.
Image: Two grey herons with a habitat base including fake rocks and cattail grass against a blue and orange sunset painted background.
Today, taxidermy is still a practiced skill and art form. They are an important tool for teaching and learning about biodiversity and the impact of environmental conservation. Museums still display taxidermy, or have recently re-displayed their taxidermy collections, to discuss the range of life on Earth.
Image: a whole specimen of an Echidna mounted on a wooden block.
Hinged bracket mounted tortoise
Image: A taxidermy tortoise, with two hinges attached to the underside of it's shell.
Image: A taxidermy tortoise, with two hinges attached to the underside of it's shell.
Early forms of taxidermy have always been regarded as forms of art.
Their original purpose was to help people understand the anatomy of animals and to keep records of extinct or endangered animals.
Society's views on taxidermy and its overall ethics have changed over the years.
Today, while ethical taxidermy is still considered an art form, the practice is dying out.
Museums are considering how they interpret 18th and 19th century, addressing their historical context and the journey these specimens took to arrive at the museum.
Preserved (adjective)
pri-zurvd
Meaning:
Also known as Wet Collections, Spirit Collections or Organic Preserved Collections.
Purpose:
By preserving specimens (such as animals, plants, body parts) in special fluids, you can preserve organic materials like organs and tissue which would otherwise deteriorate very quickly.
Spirit Preserved Collection
A spirit preserved collection is a very tricky type of collection for any Natural History museum. There is a fine balance when mixing the solution, carefully diluting the alcohol so it does not accidently destroy the specimens. It is also important that the jar is kept air-tight and the fluid needs to be topped up over time.
The spirit preserved collection in the Bioscience Collection holds an array of animals, insects and some plant material. Most of this material again highlights the previous 'learning' role this collection once had. For example, the bee and the lamprey below highlights the life-cycle of the specimens.
A suspicious note attached to one specimen for examples describes a jar as containing 'Trawler Residue from the HMS Discovery'. We hope further research on the collection will solve this mystery!
A preserved spirit specimen of a set of bees of varying life cycle stages.
A preserved spirit specimen of a set of bees of varying life cycle stages.
A set of ten Lamprey specimens, working from top to bottom showing the life cycle from egg to adulthood.
A set of ten Lamprey specimens, working from top to bottom showing the life cycle from egg to adulthood.
Jar noted as 'Trawler Residue' from 'HMS Discovery'. The Y6 number corresponds to the original index cards; these index cards details information from when the teaching collection was being used in the department.
Jar noted as 'Trawler Residue' from 'HMS Discovery'. The Y6 number corresponds to the original index cards; these index cards details information from when the teaching collection was being used in the department.
Digital copy of the index card for the Trawler Residue specimen. Museum collections work often includes having to decipher historic cataloguing data which often does not go into great detail.
Digital copy of the index card for the Trawler Residue specimen. Museum collections work often includes having to decipher historic cataloguing data which often does not go into great detail.
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