|
Voyage
of Dumont d'Urville 1826-1829 |
The naturalists
of the expedition, Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard,
had served aboard the Coquille alongside D’Urville
under Duperrey; they continued to do outstanding work aboard
the Astrolabe under the command of D’Urville. They
felt quite at home on the ship, since it actually was the Coquille,
renamed in honor of the search for La Pérouse’s ships, one of
which was called the Astrolabe.
|
Perruche
à tète pourpre
[Ruby-headed
Parrot] (Australia)
|
Podarge
Papou. [Papuan Frogmouth]
(New
Guinea)
|
Cynocéphale
nègre. [Black Baboon] (Moluccas)
|
The above
three images are from
Voyage de
la Corvette l’Astrolabe… Pendant
les Années 1826-1829: Paris: J. Tastu, 1830-1834.
|
These three specimens
were acquired during the expedition of Dumont d’Urville.
The naturalists described the Australian parrot as having "les
formes sveltes et élégantes," with
a strong beak, and having a great variety of color in its plumage;
the long tail is composed of twelve tiered feathers. The frogmouth
was found in the harbor of Doreï, New Guinea. It belongs
to the order of Caprimulgiformes, which also include nighthawks.
The baboon was found at Matchian [i.e. Makian]. Their description
states that it was between three and four years old, sweet tempered,
intelligent, and playful; but could kill if provoked. One of
the leading figures in the field of natural history at the time
of this expedition was Georges Cuvier. Gaimard and Quoy consulted
with him as they prepared the monumental and spectacular zoology
of the voyage upon their return.
|
D'Urville: Page 8 of 8.
|
back
next
|