Conjoined kittens
Date
30 June 1686
Creator
Henry Hunt (British) , Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p81
Material
Dimensions
height (paper): 300mm
width (paper): 185mm
width (paper): 185mm
Subject
Content object
Description
A drawing of a 'monstrous' kitten, with inscription, by Henry Hunt. It was shown on 30 June 1686 to the Royal Society, where it was described as 'having two faces joining together at the eyes'.
Transcription
Under the drawing: a cat del. Per HNT.
At the bottom: '19'
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
At the bottom: '19'
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 30 June, 1686, 'A monstrous kitten was produced, having two faces joining together at the eyes, which was in the middle of the common face, and was composed of the meeting of two eyes. Upon dissecting it was found to have but one oesophagus and one aspera arteria, the two mouths joining in one common cavity. The entrails were all single; only the spina dorsi appeared double, the compages of the bones of the skull and spine being most remarkable. It was ordered, that a skeleton should be made thereof' (Birch 4:492).
Associated place