Zoological Results of the Ruwenzori Expedition, 1905-1906 (Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, Vol. XIX)

Description:

First edition. Scientific reports on the zoological collections made during the 1905-1906 British expedition to Ruwenzori: Vermes - F.E. Beddard; Mollusca - E.A. Smith; Crustacea - W.T. Calman; Arachnida - A.S. Hirst; Neuroptera - W.F. Kirby; Orthoptera - W.F. Kirby, Rhynchota - W.L. Distant; Diptera - E.E. Austen; Lepidoptera Heterocera - G.F. Hampson; Lepidoptera Rhopalocera - F.A. Heron; Hymenoptera - C.T. Bingham; Coleoptera - G.J. Arrow, C.O. Waterhouse, C.J. Gahan, G.A.K. Marshall; Pisces, Batrachia and Reptilia - G.A. Boulenger; Aves - W.R. Ogilvie-Grant; Mammalia - O. Thomas. Attractive chromolithographic plates, those of birds by H. Gronveld.

In the Preface, W.R. Ogilvie-Grant states, “Ever since its discovery by Sir Henry Stanley in 1888, the great range of mountains in Equatorial Africa known as Ruwenzori, or the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, has attracted the attention of naturalists in all parts of the world, especially in Europe and America. The isolated position and the great altitude attained by the forest-clad, snow-capped peaks, rising to nearly 17,000 feet, made it certain that a rich and peculiar Fauna and Flora must await the investigation of the explorer. With a view of benefiting the British Museum (Natural History), I therefore determined […] to be the first in the field. […] The Ruwenzori range has now been investigated as completely as it is at present possible; unfortunately, the western heights, which lie in the Congo territory, had to be abandoned before they had been properly explored, owing to the to the hostility of the natives.

The collections formed are among the finest that have ever been sent to the British Museum, both as regards the number of species and the perfect condition in which they have reached this country.”

Condition

4to, attractively rebound in recent half calf, raised bands, marbled boards. Withdrawn from an institutional library, with small neat ink stamps to bottom margins of a few pages and verso of plates.