Bibliotheca Herpetologica 16(9)

Honegger, R. E. and D. G. Blackburn 2022. The Arrival of the Dragons of our Forefathers, or Some Remarks on Early [non-English] European Encounters with Exotic Reptiles. Bibliotheca Herpetologica 16(9):94–117. Published Sept. 18, 2022. Reptiles always fascinated humankind: they stood for fear, superstition, and danger. With the publication of the first animal encyclopedia (1551–1587) by Conrad Gessner (1516–1565), the “Amphibians” (as they were called at that time) gained much attention in Europe. Giant reptiles, especially giant snakes and crocodiles, were of great interest – the former as descendants of the Dragons (sensu Gessner), and the latter as dangerous exotic man-eaters. With the process of European colonization of tropical regions and the beginning of scheduled ship traffic, an increasing number of live, strange, unknown reptiles and other animals started to arrive at the ports of London, Amsterdam and later Hamburg. These animals were exhibited by wandering showmen, presented at markets and fairs, displayed in traveling menageries, lodged in royal courts, and eventually, housed in zoological parks. Accordingly, for hundreds of years, the European populace had opportunities to observe living reptiles from foreign lands. This situation represents an aspect of the public face of herpetological history that tends to be overlooked in academic studies, given that relevant written sources and printed materials are scarce, obscure, and difficult to access. This account draws upon such sources to trace historical aspects of the early introduction of living reptiles from around the world into continental Europe. Features that are considered herein include the public display of such reptiles, their transport from abroad, and their maintenance in captivity. In addition to works in the primary and secondary literature, we offer documentary evidence in the form of the rare “broadsheets”, posters, newspaper articles, and advertisements that described public displays of reptiles in the 16th through 19th centuries

Save the Date: ISHBH Business Meeting September 29

Dear ISHB Members,

The International Society for the History and Bibliography of Herpe­tology

Zoom Business Meeting on Thursday, 29 September 2022 at 12h00 Eastern Time (USA/Canada) = 18h00 Central European Time

 

Meeting Agenda ISHBH 2022 Zoom Business Meeting

 1. Opening of the meeting and welcome

2. Review and approval of the minutes of the Board Meeting of ISHBH (attached), with opportunity for questions from the membership

3. Review and approval of 2021 financial statement and proposed 2022-23 budget (attached)

4. Election of the Executive Committee for 2022-2024 (until the next Business meeting). Members may nominate themselves or others for a board position. If nominating another person please obtain their agreement to stand in advance.

5. Old business

6. New business
7. Closing of the meeting

 

Please note paid members for 2021 and/or 2022 and Life Members will receive a link to join the meeting via email about 27 September. This assumes that we have your correct email.

If you wish to attend the meeting on the 29th and don't receive the link email please send us an email  that says "Meeting Link Please" in the subject bar to Membership@ISHBH.com 

Best wishes,

Aaron M. Bauer

Chairperson

Wahlgreniana Volume 2

Now accepting orders - Publication date October 1, 2022

    The Bibliography of the Anurans of the United States and Canada Part 1: 1698–2012. Part 2: 2013–2021 was compiled largely as background material for Dodd’s The Frogs of the United States and Canada (First edition published 2013 by Johns Hopkins University Press; 2nd edition forthcoming from the same publisher), with the objective of developing a comprehensive reference to publications on the natural history of North American anurans. It focuses on life history, ecology, systematics, behavior, physiological ecology, diseases, parasites, and conservation biology, and includes important references on distribution and other topics useful to understanding frogs in their natural environment. Strictly physiological, developmental, and genetics citations have been excluded, as are routine new distribution records, especially when life history information was not included. Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations were included opportunistically as they were encountered. The two parts correspond to the cut-off dates for the two editions of The Frogs of the United States and Canada.
    This extraordinary compilation of the Anuran literature extends back to Gabriel Thomas’ (1698) mention of the bullfrog—the earliest reference to a specific species the author encountered—through 2021. Anyone working on the anurans of the United States and Canada will undoubtedly find numerous references to publications they didn’t know existed. This is exactly what bibliographies are meant for and this bibliography succeeds commendably.
    Available in two formats: A hardcover book and an eBook. The eBook allows for searches of the entire bibliography. To minimize problems utilizing the eBook, it is being distributed solely by existing eBook sellers (not by ISHBH).


Specifications:Hardcover (ISBN: 979-8-218-06245-3), x + 282 pages. Price: $35.00 retail; $21.00 for ISHBH members (plus $7.00 postage and handling). Ordering: Copies may be ordered at
www.ISHBH.com, or from most Online and physical bookstores world-wide.
eBook also available (ISBN: 979-8-218-06246-0). Retail price $9.99. The eBook version may be ordered from most eBook distributors Online.