The art of zoology

I have long had an interest in the history of zoological illustration and much admire the exquisite and detailed drawings, paintings, etchings and lithographs made by the Victorian naturalists. Today, it being far too wet to venture outside,  I thought that I might share one with you.

This beautiful lithographic illustration is from A Monograph of The British Nudibranchiate Mollusca by Joshua Alder, Albany Hancock and Sir Charles Elliot. It was published by The Ray Society, in 10 parts, between 1845 and 1910.

The lithograph shows a colourful nudibranch known as Lomanotus genei, collected in the harbour at Plymouth.