Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9994
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    ‘The Horned Fish; and the Sea Scorpion’ [Longhorn cowfish and Short-spined sea scorpion]

    Date
    1757
    Creator
    George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
    Object type
    Library reference
    38029
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 288mm
    width (print): 220mm
    Subject
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
          > fish
    Description
    Marine zoological studies of two fishes: the Longhorn cowfish Lactoria cornuta, a main image with two uncoloured views of the upper body and underside; with a view of a female Short-spined sea scorpion Myoxocephalus scorpius shown with roe or eggs.

    Plate 284 from chapter 74 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 2 (London, for the author, 1760). The author describes the fishes within the text: “These Fishes are drawn from life, of their natural bigness. The Horned Fish was preserved in spirits; the other was fresh when drawn...My obliging friend John Fothergill, M.D. favoured me with the Horned Fish, which was brought from the island of Madagascar...The Scorpion Fish was brought fresh to London, being taken amongst Sprats near the mouth of the river Thames...”

    The plate is inscribed: “Pisciculus Cornutus. Porcellus. Geo. Edwards delin et Sculp: A.D. 1757.”

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