Some of the oldest specimens in the Invertebrate Zoology collections come from the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. The Expedition was undertaken by the U.S. Navy and was accompanied by nine scientists and artists. They were charged with exploring, studying and surveying the Pacific Ocean. The Expedition circumnavigated the world, and crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean over the 4 years. Included among the scientists, was Yale geologist James D. Dana.
Originally the Expedition’s geologist, Dana took on the role of zoologist after Joseph Couthouy left the Expedition after clashing with its commander, Lt. Charles Wilkes. While rightfully renowned for his contributions to geology, Dana left his mark on the Invertebrate zoology community with his landmark monographs on the Zoophytes (Corals and Anemones) and Crustacea of the Exploring Expedition. The specimens of plants, birds, mammals, invertebrates, etc. and anthropological objects collected during the Expedition were the basis for the founding of the collections of Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History. Over the years, duplicates were sent to other museums such as the Peabody and Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. Many of Dana’s type specimens found their way to the Peabody from Dana himself and via exchanges during the Verrill years. Sadly, many of his Crustacea types were lost during the Great Chicago Fire, as they were being studied at the time by William Stimpson at the Chicago Academy of Sciences.
While sorting through a folder, labeled by Verrill as “Miscellaneous notes and drawings, Foreign and American,” I came across several important original illustrations made by Dana, very likely drawn aboard the vessel during the Expedition. Investigating further, two of the illustrations represent the original account of specimens that were described from life and apparently not retained. Therefore, the illustration above (YPM IZ 56758) of a species of Siphonophora described by Dana would be considered the holotype. This figure was reproduced in his publication on the description of Crystallomia polygonata. A second illustration (YPM IZ 56759) of a Polychaeta specimen was sent to W.C. Minor who described the new species Tomopteris danae from the figure and Dana’s description. These two illustrations are essentially the specimens. As they have been buried in the divisional archives for at least the last 100 years, they have been lost to subsequent revisers of these species. From a historical perspective, it would not be an understatement to suggest that these illustrations represent some of the most important holdings for the Division of Invertebrate Zoology and would have great value to any historian studying James Dana or the Exploring Expedition.
