Essays on Early Ornithology and Kindred Subjects Informative Summary

Overview:

This book is a compilation of essays by James R. McClymont focusing on early ornithology and the role of birds in historical voyages of discovery. McClymont, a scholar of Portuguese and Dutch exploration, meticulously examines the accounts of famous voyages, unearthing fascinating observations about the birds encountered by early navigators. He tackles the mythology surrounding legendary creatures like the Rukh, tracing its origins back to Persian folklore and its connection to real sea eagles observed by sailors. McClymont further illuminates the encounters with penguins, seals, and cassowaries, analyzing the descriptions provided by explorers like Vasco da Gama and Willem de Vlamingh. He explores the origins of bird names, like the ’emu’, and delves into the historical context of discoveries like the Banda Islands, which were once the epicenter of nutmeg trade.

The essays go beyond simple descriptions of birds, offering insights into the cultural context of their observation, the evolution of bird names, and the importance of ornithological knowledge for navigation and trade. McClymont’s meticulous research and engaging writing style provide a unique perspective on early ornithology, showcasing the intersection of natural history, exploration, and cultural history.

Key Findings:

Early explorers documented their observations of birds, contributing to the development of ornithology.
The Rukh of Marco Polo, a legendary giant bird, was likely based on real sea eagles.
Penguins, seals, and cassowaries were encountered and described by Portuguese and Dutch navigators.
Bird names, like ’emu’, have complex etymological histories.
The Banda Islands were a significant location for the nutmeg trade.
The first European exploration of Western Australia yielded descriptions of black swans, emus, and other local birds.
Early explorers frequently named birds using European names, highlighting the limitations of their knowledge.

Learning:

Bird mythology and folklore: The Rukh, a legendary bird mentioned by Marco Polo, illustrates how myths and legends can be intertwined with real observations of birds. The Rukh’s size and power were exaggerated, but the basis of its existence can likely be traced back to sea eagles.
The early history of ornithology: This text provides valuable insights into the early history of ornithology by showcasing the observations of early explorers. Their encounters with various birds, from penguins to cassowaries, contributed to the growing knowledge of the natural world.
The role of natural history in navigation: The essays highlight how bird observations were crucial for navigators. Birds helped explorers to identify land, predict weather, and locate valuable resources like spices.
Early encounters with Australian birds: The essays detail the early encounters of European explorers with Australian birds, such as black swans, emus, and cockatoos. This provides a glimpse into the natural history of Australia prior to European settlement.

Historical Context:

The text provides a snapshot of the world during the Age of Exploration. This was a time of intense maritime activity, driven by the desire for new trade routes, new lands, and new resources. European explorers like Vasco da Gama, Columbus, and Willem de Vlamingh were at the forefront of this movement, seeking to expand the horizons of their respective nations. The essays highlight the confluence of this ambitious exploration with the burgeoning field of natural history, as European travelers began to document their observations of exotic flora and fauna.

Facts:

The Rukh, a legendary giant bird described by Marco Polo, was likely based on real sea eagles, with its size and power exaggerated in tales.
The ’eme’ or ’emia’ mentioned by Purchas in the 17th century was likely a cassowary, probably from Ceram.
Cassowaries were imported into Amboyna and Banda, and even into Java from where one was brought alive to Amsterdam in 1597.
The Portuguese word ’ema’ is not definitively proven to mean crane, and instead often refers to various birds, including the cassowary.
The Arabic name for the cassowary is ‘neâma,’ which may have influenced the Portuguese word ‘uma ema’.
In 1696, the Dutch East India Company sent an expedition to search for missing vessels and to explore the ‘Onbekende Zuidland’ (unknown South Land), which was their name for Australia.
The expedition, led by Willem de Vlamingh, discovered the presence of black swans in Western Australia, and brought three live specimens back to Batavia.
Eucalyptus oil was likely first distilled from wood obtained by de Vlamingh in Australia in 1697.
The ‘kropgans’ mentioned by de Vlamingh may have been a Grey Lag Goose or the Cape Barren Goose, both found in Australia.
The ‘Rotgans’ mentioned in the same text may have been a Musk Duck, which also inhabits Western Australia.
The French explorer Marion Dufresne, seeking a southern continent, landed on Marion Island, naming it Ile de la Prise de Possession, where he observed penguins, Cape petrels, and cormorants.
The ‘damiers’ mentioned by Crozet are Cape Petrels, which nest on islands like Tristan da Cunha and Kerguelen.
Crozet’s observation of a white bird mistaken for a pigeon on Marion Island may have been a Sheath-bill, a common inhabitant of the Crozet Islands.
The French mariners, like their Dutch predecessors, often applied European bird names to unfamiliar species in Tasmania and New Zealand, reflecting their limited knowledge.
Crozet’s black thrushes with white tufts in New Zealand were likely Tuis, a distinctive and common New Zealand bird.
The large, black or dusky parrot observed by Crozet in New Zealand may have been the Kaka, although it lacks blue plumage.
Crozet’s ‘poule bleue’ in New Zealand was likely the Swamp Hen, a bird with a rich purple plumage and red feet.
The curlews observed by Crozet in New Zealand are Numenius cyanopus, which migrate to Pacific islands during the winter.
The ‘aigrettes blanches et noires’ observed by Crozet may have been reef herons.
The ‘goelette blanche’ mentioned by Crozet was possibly a White Tern, known for its pure white plumage.

Statistics:

In 1597, a cassowary was brought alive to Amsterdam from Java, demonstrating the early trade in exotic animals.
The Dutch East India Company, in the early 17th century, destroyed nutmeg trees in all islands under their control except Amboyna and the Banda Islands, highlighting their monopoly on the nutmeg trade.
In 1696, the Dutch East India Company sent three vessels under Willem de Vlamingh to search for missing vessels and to explore the ‘Onbekende Zuidland’ (unknown South Land), illustrating the extent of Dutch exploration at the time.
De Vlamingh’s expedition found a plank three feet long and one span broad from a possible ship wreck, providing a tangible reminder of the risks of maritime exploration.
De Vlamingh found nine or ten Black Swans in Western Australia in 1697, demonstrating the existence of this unique bird species in the region.
The Dutch expedition brought three live black swans back to Batavia, highlighting the interest in exotic animals and the challenge of transporting them.
De Vlamingh’s expedition encountered numerous turtles in Dirk Hartog’s Reede in 1697, indicating the abundance of this species in the region.
The French expedition under Marion Dufresne sighted terns and gulls on the 8th of January, 1772, suggesting the prevalence of these species in the Southern Ocean.
Crozet observed numerous penguins, Cape petrels, and cormorants on Marion Island, highlighting the importance of these islands for seabird breeding.
Crozet noted that seabirds continued to nest on Marion Island, undisturbed by his presence, illustrating the relative lack of human disturbance in this region at the time.
Crozet observed wood pigeons as large as fowls in New Zealand, indicating the presence of a large pigeon species in the region.
Crozet encountered a large black or dusky parrot with red and blue markings in New Zealand, suggesting the presence of a variety of parrot species.
Crozet’s expedition spent approximately four months in New Zealand in 1772, providing valuable insights into the region’s natural history.
Crozet observed an abundance of ducks and teals on New Zealand lakes, illustrating the importance of these water bodies as habitats for avian species.
Crozet’s observation of curlews, which migrated from New Zealand to Pacific islands, demonstrates the long-distance migration patterns of certain bird species.
The ‘manches de velours’ observed by Crozet, the Masked Gannet, are known to frequent tropical and sub-tropical seas, suggesting the occasional appearance of these species in New Zealand waters.

Terms:

Roteiro: A Portuguese term referring to a sailing guide or itinerary.
Assagais: Spears with barbed heads, typically used by African tribes.
Sotilicarios: A Portuguese term for penguins, possibly derived from the Latin ‘subtilis’, referring to their supposed cunning.
Onbekende Zuidland: The Dutch name for the ‘unknown South Land’, referring to Australia.
Kropgans: A Dutch term possibly referring to the Grey Lag Goose or the Cape Barren Goose.
Rotgans: A Dutch term possibly referring to the Brent Goose or the Musk Duck.
Duikers: A Dutch term for cormorants.
Kasuaris: A Dutch term for cassowaries.
Eendragt: The name of the Dutch ship commanded by Dirk Hartog, known for its visit to Dirk Hartog’s Island in 1616.
Goelette blanche: A French term for the White Tern.

Examples:

The Rukh: Marco Polo’s account of the Rukh, a giant bird that could carry an elephant in its talons, is a prime example of a mythological creature intertwined with real bird observations.
Cassowary in Amsterdam: The cassowary brought alive to Amsterdam in 1597, after having been a gift from Javanese people to Dutch sailors, illustrates the early trade in exotic animals.
Black Swan Discovery: Willem de Vlamingh’s discovery of black swans in Western Australia in 1697 is a significant example of early European encounters with Australian birds.
Early Eucalyptus Oil: The distillation of eucalyptus oil from wood obtained by de Vlamingh in 1697 is a historical example of the early use of this essential oil.
‘Poule bleue’ of Madagascar: Crozet’s observation of a ‘poule bleue’ in New Zealand, similar to those found in Madagascar, India, and China, illustrates the widespread occurrence of certain bird species.
Curlew Migration: Crozet’s observation of curlews migrating from New Zealand to Pacific islands highlights the long-distance migration patterns of some birds.
Masked Gannet Encounter: Crozet’s sighting of a Masked Gannet in New Zealand waters, a bird usually found in tropical seas, exemplifies the occasional appearance of these species in temperate regions.
Bird Names in Tasmania: Crozet’s use of European bird names for unfamiliar species in Tasmania illustrates the limitations of early explorers’ knowledge.
Seabirds on Marion Island: Crozet’s observation of seabirds nesting undisturbed on Marion Island reflects the relative lack of human disturbance in this remote region at the time.
Tuis in New Zealand: Crozet’s description of black thrushes with white tufts in New Zealand, likely referring to Tuis, provides a valuable early observation of this distinctive bird.

Conclusion:

This collection of essays provides a fascinating glimpse into the early history of ornithology, showcasing the intersection of natural history, exploration, and cultural history. McClymont’s meticulous research brings to life the encounters of early explorers with various bird species, highlighting their observations, the evolution of bird names, and the importance of ornithological knowledge for navigation and trade. The book offers valuable insights into the myths and legends surrounding birds, the development of ornithology as a science, and the historical context of early explorations in regions like Australia and New Zealand. Through these stories, McClymont illuminates the complex relationship between humans and birds, revealing the long-standing fascination with the natural world and its vital role in shaping our understanding of the planet.

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