| Ref No | DF/ZOO/219 |
| Alt Ref No | DF219 |
| Title | Zoology Collection Catalogues |
| Description | This series consisted of five sub-series of catalogues until 2026 when a sixth sub series of Aves catalogues was added to the collection. Each catalogue contains details of specimens held in Zoological collections, arranged in systematic order. Information includes the Latin name, locality, collector and often early trials of an accession number.
The first attempt at cataloguing the zoological collections was made by William Elford Leach, who had a series of quarto volumes ruled and headed sometime soon after 1816. However, the entries in the Cephalopoda and Reptilia volumes (DF219/1-2) are by J E Gray, and must have been made after his arrival in 1834. Cataloguing began in earnest after 1837, following the recommendations of a Parliamentary Select Committee. Accession registers were opened (see DF218) and classified catalogues begun, with a view to eventual publication.
The second sub-series of catalogues (DF219/3-10) are vellum octavos written by J E Gray. Few accession numbers are included, and they at least partly predate 1837. The third sub-series (DF219/11-15) were also vellum octavos by J E Gray, but have been rebound in cloth. The fourth sub-series are rebound octavos which may have been originally bound in vellum. Most entries include register numbers, and they postdate 1837. Although J E Gray wrote some entries, two other unidentified writers are also represented. The fifth sub-series are half-foolscap in size. The writer of the Radiata volume is unknown; the remainder were written by Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas, who joined the Museum in 1878 as Assistant in charge of mammals. The sixth sub series (DF/ZOO/219/62/1-), and known as 'The Vellum Catalogues' record birds and were compiled between around 1832 to 1836. |
| Date | 1825-1900 |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Related Material | Catalogues to parts of the invertebrate collections are held in DF250/32-38. Further volumes of the W E Leach catalogue are held in the Crustacea and Bird sections. |
| Held By | NHM Archives |
| Extent | 55 |
| Level | Series |
Show related Persons records.
Persons
| Code | PersonName | Dates | Source |
| PX568 | Gray; John Edward (1800-1875); Naturalist; Keeper of Zoological Branch | 1800-1875 | |