Beluga whale
Date
1821
Creator
William Home Lizars (1788 - 1859, British) , Artist
After
Patrick Syme (1774 - 1845, British) , Painter
Object type
Library reference
RCN32515
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 125mm
width (print): 210mm
width (print): 210mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Zoological studies of an adult male Beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas. The Arctic and sub-Artic cetacean. Figure 1 shows the animal lying against rocks. Figure 2 shows the dissected creature, with the trachea, oesophagus, lungs, stomachs and intestines exposed.
Plate 17 accompanying the paper ‘Account of a Beluga or White whale, killed in the Firth of Forth’, by Dr Barclay and Mr Neill, Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society, v.3 1817-1820, pp.371-395 (Edinburgh, 1821). Figure 1 inscribed below: P. Syme delt.’ Figure 2 inscribed below: ‘Drawn & Engd. by W.H.Lizars.’ Title above ‘BELUGA’.
According to the accompanying text, this whale was observed for three months around the coast of Kincardine, Scotland and was killed near Stirling. ‘The animal had been attacked both with firearms and spears. A musket ball had entered the lungs and was found lodged in them by Dr Barclay in the course of dissecting; and several gashes, made with some pointed weapon, appeared in different parts of the body…’
John Barclay (1758-1826) British anatomist.
Patrick Neill (1776-1851) British printer and horticulturalist was first Secretary of the Wernerian Society.
Plate 17 accompanying the paper ‘Account of a Beluga or White whale, killed in the Firth of Forth’, by Dr Barclay and Mr Neill, Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society, v.3 1817-1820, pp.371-395 (Edinburgh, 1821). Figure 1 inscribed below: P. Syme delt.’ Figure 2 inscribed below: ‘Drawn & Engd. by W.H.Lizars.’ Title above ‘BELUGA’.
According to the accompanying text, this whale was observed for three months around the coast of Kincardine, Scotland and was killed near Stirling. ‘The animal had been attacked both with firearms and spears. A musket ball had entered the lungs and was found lodged in them by Dr Barclay in the course of dissecting; and several gashes, made with some pointed weapon, appeared in different parts of the body…’
John Barclay (1758-1826) British anatomist.
Patrick Neill (1776-1851) British printer and horticulturalist was first Secretary of the Wernerian Society.
Associated place