MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES:SOURCE MATERIAL FOR CRYPTOZOOLOGICAL STUDIES PART TWO

Today I conclude my survey of obscure early twentieth century (and earlier) zoological magazines, collated by T. Sheppard (1), many of which will be available in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, should you want to join. There is a lot of important zoological information on the open shelves in the Zoological Library on South Parks Road, just past the Rhodes House Library, but it was a bit difficult trying to get permission to go in. There is more information than I expected so this series will have to run to at least Part Three.

THE MALACOLOGICAL AND CONCHOLOGICAL MAGAZINE

'Conducted by G. B. Sowerby, FLS etc etc. Part 1...1838…It was `to be continued monthly,` but the British Museum Catalogue only notes two parts, in 1838 and in 1839. On the first page we learn that `This work is intended as the Conductor`s gratuitous contribution for the advancement of one of his favourite branches of Natural Science…This part contains 32 pages and a plate, etc. One of these is devoted to ` The Yorkshire Meteorite` which fell at Thwing in 1795. The Meteorite was then in the possession of the Sowerby family who were prepared to deliver it to the Trustees of the British Museum` as soon as £300 shall be subscribed`(2)

THE ZOOLOGICAL MAGAZINE

'or Journal of Natural History, being a series of Miscellaneous Articles original and translated, on interesting subjects in Zoology, illustrated by engravings in Zoology, illustrated by engravings in steel and wood.` This publication appeared in 1833, six parts (8vo) with a total of 192 pages, were published, and the part has an index occupying less than a page. The articles refer to the Giraffe, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Polar Bear, etc and occasionally there are shorter notes of zoological interest. My copy, recently obtained, was once in the possession of Richard Owen, and bears his signature' (3)

MOSLEY`S HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS

'I learn from British Birds, August, 1916 p. 71, that Mr Mosley`s work of 69 numbers appeared in 59 parts, and the work was issued in two editions, `superior` and `ordinary`.(4)

SOCIETY OF AMATEUR GEOLOGISTS

'In 1888, was published Vol 1 of an octavo publication, the first number of which contained 12 pages which were entirely devoted to the presidential address by W. Semmons on `The Metallic Ores of Cornwall`. In the same year Vol 1 No 2 was published, but the heading now appears `Proceedings of the Society of Amateur Geologists…etc. T. Sheppard goes on to describe how the magazine developed until its demise after issue 5. (5)

RECORDS OF MINING

'In 1829 was published part 1 (and last) of `Records of Mining` edited by John Taylor…The work was hoped to supply a want in our national literature. It contains seven papers five by J. Taylor, and two by J. H. Vivian. These principally refer to Cornwall, etc. There are also ` tables exhibiting the quantities of Copper, Tin,Lead, etc, produced in Great Britain,. The last refer to Yorkshire and other northern counties (6)

THE MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE

'and the Journal of the Mineralogical Society.` The Mineralogical Society was instituted on February 5th 1876, and from its bye-laws we learn that `The object of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, with which the Crystallogical Society was amalgamated on December 11th 1883, shall be to advance the knowledge of Mineralogy and also of Crystallography and Petrology. The Society has issued a Magazine, octavo, which averages about 100 pages each part with plates. The last part is published is No. 84 (Vol XVIII) June 1917. The first appeared in 1876… (7)


1. T.Sheppard Old Natural History Magazines, etc Naturalist December 1917 pp 387-391
2. Ibid p.387
3. Ibid p.387
4. Ibid p.p 387-388
5. Ibid p.388
6. Ibid p.388
7. Ibid p.388

To be continued……..