Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9995
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‘The Greater Cockroach; and the Whistle Insect’
Date
1757-1758
Creator
Cornelius Heinrich Hemerich , Printmaker
After
George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British)
Object type
Library reference
38029
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 288mm
width (print): 220mm
width (print): 220mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Entomological studies of two insects: two figures of a cockroach, supposedly from Carolina, North America; and three figures of a variety of cricket, from ‘Barbary’ [North Africa, or perhaps California].
Plate 285 from chapter 75 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 insects within the text: “These insects were drawn from nature, and are figured on the plate of the size of life...The Greater Cockroach was brought from Carolina by the late Mr. Catesby, who...calls it Blatta maxima fusca peltata. The reason why I have refigured it is, because it is very rare, and Mr. Catesby has a little miscarried in his drawing, which I have endeavoured to amend. This insect fell into my hands after the death of Mr. Catesby. The Whistle-Insect was brought from Santa-Crux in Barbary, by my good friend Capt. John Dobson, who presented it to me. I have called it the Whistle-Insect, because it very nearly agrees with another insect found in Africa, of which the natives make whistles to call their cattle together...”
The plate is inscribed: “Edwards Delin. Hemerich Sculp”
Plate 285 from chapter 75 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 insects within the text: “These insects were drawn from nature, and are figured on the plate of the size of life...The Greater Cockroach was brought from Carolina by the late Mr. Catesby, who...calls it Blatta maxima fusca peltata. The reason why I have refigured it is, because it is very rare, and Mr. Catesby has a little miscarried in his drawing, which I have endeavoured to amend. This insect fell into my hands after the death of Mr. Catesby. The Whistle-Insect was brought from Santa-Crux in Barbary, by my good friend Capt. John Dobson, who presented it to me. I have called it the Whistle-Insect, because it very nearly agrees with another insect found in Africa, of which the natives make whistles to call their cattle together...”
The plate is inscribed: “Edwards Delin. Hemerich Sculp”
Associated place