Paper, 'On the dentition of Ornithorhynchus [platypus]' by [Michael Rogers] Oldfield Thomas

Description

Thomas writes: 'At the meeting of the 9th of February, 1888, Mr E B Poulton communicated to this Society the first discovery of the presence of teeth in Ornithorhynchus [see PP/11/22], a discovery which naturally awakened extreme interest throughout the scientific world. This first account was afterwards elaborated into a long and excellent description of the form, structure, and development of the teeth, and their relationship to the horny plates (or “cornules,” as they may be conveniently termed) which form the functional masticatory organs of the adult animal.'

Annotations in pencil and ink. Note on front reads 'The author would be glad to be allowed one uncoloured plate which the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Society would undertake. May 7 1889.' A further note reads '?? [sic] See my answer H R [Herbert Rix]'.

Subject: Zoology

Received 8 May 1889. Read 16 May 1889. Communicated by Albert Gunther.

A version of this paper was published in volume 46 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On the dentition of ornithorhynchus'.

Reference number

PP/14/11

Earliest possible date

1889

Physical description

Ink and graphite pencil on paper

Page extent

15 pages

Format

Manuscript