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Description

Davy observes that a portion of the blood of the Ornithorhynchus hystrix, when mixed with a strong solution of common salt, exhibits some globules of irregular shape. Another portion of blood observed by Davy, preserved in syrup, contains numerous globules of irregular and circular shape. Davy concludes that as none of the globules are elliptical, like those of birds, the Ornithorhynchus hystrix is more likely to belong in the class of Mammalia.

Subject: Zoology / Haematology

Received 15 April 1840.

Written by Davy in Chatham [England].

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 4 of Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London [later Proceedings of the Royal Society] as 'Notice relative to the form of the blood-particles of the ornithorhynchus hystrix'.

Reference number
AP/23/23
Earliest possible date
13 April 1840
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Davy

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Citation

John Davy, Unpublished paper, 'Notice relative to the form of the blood-particles of the Ornithorhynchus hystrix' by John Davy, 13 April 1840, AP/23/23, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_23_23/unpublished-paper-notice-relative-to-the-form-of-the-blood-particles-of-the-ornithorhynchus-hystrix-by-john-davy, accessed on 12 February 2025

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  • Archived Papers

    Dates: 1768-1989

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

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