The Natural History of the Order Cetacea
And the Oceanic Inhabitants of the Arctic Regions

An illustrated account of Arctic marine zoology, published in 1834 by a doctor and naturalist who had travelled to Greenland.

H. W. Dewhurst (Author)

9781108071871, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 August 2014

402 pages, 51 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.51 kg

Before Henry William Dewhurst established himself in Bloomsbury, where he lectured in 1827–8 on anatomy and physiology, he served as a ship's surgeon and made a journey to Greenland and its surrounding seas in 1824. During that time he was able to study the large Arctic creatures that fascinated him, especially whales. In the decade after his return, he prepared this thorough description of polar sea life. Published in 1834, it includes many engraved illustrations. Whales were of especial interest in this period, owing to the use of their blubber in many household objects, and Dewhurst also touches on the practice of whaling. His work was one of the first studies to examine the different species of whales, as well as dolphins and other marine life. It stands as an important contribution to the development of Arctic zoology.

Dedication
List of subscribers
Letter to subscribers
Preface
Introduction
General history of whales
Natural history
Economy of the whale
Methods employed to capture the whale
Early history of the British whale fishery
Natural history of whale species
Conclusionary observations
Letters, testimonials, etc.
The author's address to the afflicted public
List of the author's works.

Subject Areas: Zoology & animal sciences [PSV]