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South America Collection

Background imageSouth America Collection: Henry Walter Bates (1825-1892)

Henry Walter Bates (1825-1892)
Henry Walter Bates FRS FLS FGS was an English naturalist and explorer who gave the first scientific account of mimicry in animals. Born in Leicester 8 February 1825, died London, 16 February 1892

Background imageSouth America Collection: Butterflies from the Amazon by H. W. Bates

Butterflies from the Amazon by H. W. Bates
A page (p 144) from a notebook of Henry W. Bates relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Background imageSouth America Collection: Epidendrum elongatum, orchid

Epidendrum elongatum, orchid
Finished watercolour by Sydney Parkinson made during Captain James Cooks first voyage across the Pacific, 1768-1771. Illustration annotated Epidendrum secundrum

Background imageSouth America Collection: Scolopendra gigantea, giant centipede

Scolopendra gigantea, giant centipede
A giant centipede which was brought into the Museums Insect Identification service after being found in a living room in London. The specimen is venomous and not native to the UK

Background imageSouth America Collection: Examples of mimicry among butterflies

Examples of mimicry among butterflies
Plate from On the lepidoptera of the Amazon Valley. Transactions of the Linnean Society, by H.W. Bates, 1862

Background imageSouth America Collection: H. W. Bates illustrated notebook

H. W. Bates illustrated notebook
Plate 7 from a notebook of Henry W. Bates (1825-92) relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Background imageSouth America Collection: Butterflies painted by H. W. Bates

Butterflies painted by H. W. Bates
A page from a notebook of Henry W. Bates relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Background imageSouth America Collection: Marsdenia mollissima

Marsdenia mollissima
Finished watercolour by Sydney Parkinson made during Captain James Cooks first voyage across the Pacific, 1768-1771. Illustration annotated Cynanchum crassifolium

Background imageSouth America Collection: Panoramic: Bahia, Brazil, South America 1873

Panoramic: Bahia, Brazil, South America 1873
A photograph taken during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876), funded by the British Government for scientific purposes

Background imageSouth America Collection: Bahia, Brazil, South America 1873

Bahia, Brazil, South America 1873
A photograph taken during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876), funded by the British Government for scientific purposes

Background imageSouth America Collection: Bahia, South America 1873

Bahia, South America 1873
A photograph taken during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876), funded by the British Government for scientific purposes

Background imageSouth America Collection: Botocudo men of Brazil with wooden plugs in the lip and ear

Botocudo men of Brazil with wooden plugs in the lip and ear
Portraits of Botocudo men of Brazil with their distinctive wooden plugs in the lip and ear. Botocudos. Handcoloured woodcut by L

Background imageSouth America Collection: Low-class Quechua woman and man of Chuquisaca, Bolivia, South Am

Low-class Quechua woman and man of Chuquisaca, Bolivia, South America. She wears a round pleated and embroidered dress, white bodice, and wears her hair in several long braids

Background imageSouth America Collection: Native American gaucho from the region of Buenos-Ayres, Argentin

Native American gaucho from the region of Buenos-Ayres, Argentina. In sugar-loaf hat, striped poncho, trousers and spurs, holding bolas or boleadoras to hunt on the pampas

Background imageSouth America Collection: Woman of the Pampas lowlands, Argentina

Woman of the Pampas lowlands, Argentina. She wears a dress of striped fabrics, necklace and earrings, and carries a feather fan and cord or lasso. Femme Pampas

Background imageSouth America Collection: Young Mapuche girl of the city of Concepcion, Chile

Young Mapuche girl of the city of Concepcion, Chile. She wears a check shawl, ornate bodice, pleated petticoats in colourful flannel, and striped stockings. Jeune fille de l'ile de la Conception

Background imageSouth America Collection: Mapuche man of Chile smoking a cigar

Mapuche man of Chile smoking a cigar. He wears a sugar-loaf hat, traditional striped poncho, jacket, culottes and leather sandals called ojotes. Chilien. Handcoloured woodcut by T.S

Background imageSouth America Collection: Vicuna, Lama vicugna, and llama, Lama glama

Vicuna, Lama vicugna, and llama, Lama glama. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Heath from George Shaw's General Zoology: Mammalia, Thomas Davison, London, 1801

Background imageSouth America Collection: Blue-backed manakin, Chiroxiphia pareola

Blue-backed manakin, Chiroxiphia pareola (Pipra pareola)

Background imageSouth America Collection: Splendid epiphyllum, Epiphyllum x splendidum

Splendid epiphyllum, Epiphyllum x splendidum. Hybrid climbing cactus raised by nurseryman Mr. Hitchen of Norwich. Native to Central and South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Mock vervain, Glandularia platensis

Mock vervain, Glandularia platensis
Mock vervain or mock verbena, Glandularia platensis. Native to South America, seeds sent from Buenos Ayres by Scottish plant collector James Tweedie. Teucrium-like verbena, Verbena teucrioides

Background imageSouth America Collection: Chile nettle, Caiophora lateritia

Chile nettle, Caiophora lateritia. Native to South America, raised in Glasgow Botanic Garden from seeds sent by Scottish botanist James Tweedie from Tucuman, Argentina

Background imageSouth America Collection: Willowleaf angelonia, Angelonia salicariifolia

Willowleaf angelonia, Angelonia salicariifolia. Native to South America, introduced from Caracas, flowered at Spofforth, the garden of botanist William Herbert, Dean of Manchester, in 1819

Background imageSouth America Collection: Indian thornapple or devil's trumpet, Datura metel

Indian thornapple or devil's trumpet, Datura metel. Raised by Wayman, gardener at Sir Henry Digby's gardens in Minterne Magnel, Dorset, from seeds imported from South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Lance's trichocentrum, Trichocentrum lanceanum

Lance's trichocentrum, Trichocentrum lanceanum
Lance's trichocentrum orchid, Trichocentrum lanceanum. Native to South America and the Caribbean, introduced from Suriname by British judge John Henry Lance

Background imageSouth America Collection: Hummingbird fuchsia, Fuchsia magellanica

Hummingbird fuchsia, Fuchsia magellanica
Hummingbird fuchsia or hardy fuchsia, Fuchsia magellanica. Native to southern South America. Elegant globe-flowered fuchsia, Fuchsia globosa elegans

Background imageSouth America Collection: Manac, Brunfelsia uniflora

Manac, Brunfelsia uniflora. Poisonous shrub native to the Caribbean and South America, used in ayahuasca and other potions. Introduced from Brazil by Marshal Beresford to his sister Mrs Thomas Hope

Background imageSouth America Collection: Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi

Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi. From a specimen of a Cuguacuarara in the collection of Prince Maurice of Nassau. Felis eyra, Eira, Felis eira. South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi

Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi (Yagouaroundi, Felis yagouaroundi, d'Azzara)

Background imageSouth America Collection: Wild tortoiseshell cat from South America, Felis catus

Wild tortoiseshell cat from South America, Felis catus

Background imageSouth America Collection: Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis

Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis (Felis pardalis)

Background imageSouth America Collection: Brown four-eyed opossum, Metachirus nudicaudatus

Brown four-eyed opossum, Metachirus nudicaudatus. Naked-tailed opossum, Didelphys nudicaudata

Background imageSouth America Collection: Woman of the Kalina or Carib people, South America

Woman of the Kalina or Carib people, South America
Woman of the Kalina or Carib people, French Guiana, South America. In apron or coyon decorated with beads, shawl, beaded gaiters, carrying a basket of flowers on her back. Sauvagesse de la Guiane

Background imageSouth America Collection: Piaye of the Kalina people, French Guiana, South America

Piaye of the Kalina people, French Guiana, South America
Piaye of the Kalina or Carib people, French Guiana, South America. Medicine man or ceremonial person with feather headdress, skirt, and wooden club. Piaye-Medecin de la Guiane

Background imageSouth America Collection: Man of the Kalina or Carib people, South America

Man of the Kalina or Carib people, South America
Man of the Kalina or Carib people, French Guiana, South America. In loincloth or camiza, armed for hunting or battle with ironwood club or putu, bow and quiver of arrows. Sauvage de la Guiane

Background imageSouth America Collection: Native American man of Tierra del Fuego, South America

Native American man of Tierra del Fuego, South America. In sealskin cloak and loincloth, leather shoes, his body painted in red. Armed with bow and quiver of arrows

Background imageSouth America Collection: Native American woman of Tierra del Fuego, South America

Native American woman of Tierra del Fuego, South America. In sealskin cloak, skirt with belt, necklace and bracelets of shells, leather shoes, her body painted in red. Holding a basket of fish

Background imageSouth America Collection: Native American chief of Patagonia, South America

Native American chief of Patagonia, South America. In feather headdress, necklace, cloak and robe, gaiters and sandals. Holding a hoop decorated with bells used in a ceremonial dance

Background imageSouth America Collection: Native American woman and child of Patagonia, South America

Native American woman and child of Patagonia, South America. In feather headdress, tunic of guanaco skin with the fur inside, culottes and gaiters. Perhaps of the extinct Yahgan people

Background imageSouth America Collection: Native American hunter of Patagonia with bolas

Native American hunter of Patagonia with bolas
Native American hunter of Patagonia, South America. In feather headdress, tunic of guanaco skin with the fur inside, culottes and gaiters. With bolas or bolases. Perhaps an extinct Yahgan

Background imageSouth America Collection: Huaso (cowboy) hunting wild cattle in Chile, 18th century

Huaso (cowboy) hunting wild cattle in Chile, 18th century
Huaso cowboy hunting wild cattle in Chile, 18th century. He is about to throw a lasso around the bull's horns to subdue it. Chasses des boeufs sauvages au Chile

Background imageSouth America Collection: Passion flower, Passiflora insignis

Passion flower, Passiflora insignis
Passion flower or passion vine, Passiflora insignis. Raised by gardener Mr Anderson at Soweby Hall, Hull, from seeds sent from South America (Peru). As Tacsonia insignis

Background imageSouth America Collection: Bladderwort, Utricularia alpina

Bladderwort, Utricularia alpina. Epiphytic, perennial carnivorous plant native to South America. As Utricularia montana

Background imageSouth America Collection: Jewel plant, Bertolonia superbissima

Jewel plant, Bertolonia superbissima. Variety of dwarf, creeping, tender perennial, native to tropical South America. From William Bull's nursery in Chelsea

Background imageSouth America Collection: Pescatoria lalindei orchid

Pescatoria lalindei orchid, native to Costa Rica, Panama and South America. As Bollea patini, named for plant collector Mr. C. Patin who found it in New Granada in 1873

Background imageSouth America Collection: Vriesea platynema

Vriesea platynema, bromeliad native to the West Indies and South America. Imported by nurseryman William Bull, King's Road, Chelsea. As Encholirion corallinum

Background imageSouth America Collection: Crimson cattleya orchid, Cattleya labiata

Crimson cattleya orchid, Cattleya labiata
Crimson cattleya or ruby-lipped cattleya orchid, Cattleya labiata. Native to South America, sent from Brazil by English ornithologist William Swainson. Splendid-flowered catleya

Background imageSouth America Collection: Narrowleaf airplant, Tillandsia tenuifolia

Narrowleaf airplant, Tillandsia tenuifolia. Native to South America and the Caribbean, sent from Trinidad by German botanist Eduard Freiherr von Schack, Baron de Schack

Background imageSouth America Collection: Stenomesson pauciflorum

Stenomesson pauciflorum. Native to western South America, introduced from Peru by Scottish plant collector James Cowan. Few-flowered chrysiphiala, Chrysiphiala pauciflora

Background imageSouth America Collection: Rodriguezia lanceolata orchid

Rodriguezia lanceolata orchid. Native to the Caribbean, Central and South America, sent from Trinidad by Eduard Freiherr von Schack, Baron de Schack

Background imageSouth America Collection: Paullinia meliifolia

Paullinia meliifolia. Native to South America, and introduced from Brazil by Richardson Harrison of Aegsburgh, flowered at Liverpool Botanic Garden. Azederach-leaved paullinia, Paullinia meliaefolia

Background imageSouth America Collection: Leucheria senecioides

Leucheria senecioides or Leucheria oligocephala. Native of Chile, seeds sent by Scottish plant hunter Alexander Cruikshanks. Groundsel-like trixis, Trixis senecioides

Background imageSouth America Collection: Lantern fly, Fulgora laternaria

Lantern fly, Fulgora laternaria
Lantern fly or peanut bug, Fulgora laternaria, Fulgora lanternaria, flying over a mountainous landscape, South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Rocktrumpet, Mandevilla martiana

Rocktrumpet, Mandevilla martiana. Native to South America, Central America, Mexico and the West Indies. Found in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro by Mr. Gardner, and raised by R. G

Background imageSouth America Collection: Amphilophium carolinae

Amphilophium carolinae, native to South America. Flowered in the gardens of the Earl of Ilchester at Melbury House in 1842. Named for the third earl Henry Fox-Strangways's daughter Caroline

Background imageSouth America Collection: Molle rastrero, Schinus longifolius

Molle rastrero, Schinus longifolius. Native to South America. Raised by nurseryman Hugh Low of Clapton, from seeds from Buenos Ayres. Long-leaved duvaua, Duvaua longifolia

Background imageSouth America Collection: Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, Alstroemeria chorillensis

Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, Alstroemeria chorillensis. Native to South America, supplied to the Horticultural Society by John Maclean of Lima, Peru

Background imageSouth America Collection: Lagrimas de la virgen, Eleutherine bulbosa

Lagrimas de la virgen, Eleutherine bulbosa
Lagrimas de la virgen, tears of the virgin, Eleutherine bulbosa. Native to southern Mexico and south America. Anomalous eleutherine, Eleutherine anomala

Background imageSouth America Collection: Gomesa uniflora orchid

Gomesa uniflora orchid. Native to South America. Imported from Brazil by Sir Charles Lemon at Carclew. One-flowered oncidium, Oncidium uniflorum

Background imageSouth America Collection: Pink-flowered clowesia orchid, Clowesia rosea

Pink-flowered clowesia orchid, Clowesia rosea. Native to Mexico, central and south America. Imported from Brazil and raised by Reverend John Clowes at Broughton Hall

Background imageSouth America Collection: Lycaste macrophylla orchid

Lycaste macrophylla orchid. Native to central and south America, imported from Bolivia by nurseryman George Loddiges. Even-flowered lycaste, Lycaste plana

Background imageSouth America Collection: Clavelillo or chivo caspi, Barnadesia caryophylla

Clavelillo or chivo caspi, Barnadesia caryophylla
Clavelillo, chivo caspi, or espino santo, Barnadesia caryophylla. Native to South America. Rose-coloured barnadesia, Barnadesia rosea

Background imageSouth America Collection: Philibertia gilliesii

Philibertia gilliesii, native to South America. Sent from Buenos Ayres by James Tweedie to the Glasgow and Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. Large-flowered philibertia, Philibertia grandiflora

Background imageSouth America Collection: Flat-headed catasetum orchid, Catasetum planiceps

Flat-headed catasetum orchid, Catasetum planiceps. Native to South America, imported by nurseryman George Loddiges

Background imageSouth America Collection: Hippeastrum elegans

Hippeastrum elegans. Solandra-flowered knight's-star lily, var. 2, Hippeastrum solandriflorum variety. Native to Central and South America, taken from a plant of Mr

Background imageSouth America Collection: Large-fruited catasetum, Catasetum macrocarpum

Large-fruited catasetum, Catasetum macrocarpum. Trinidad catasetum, Catasetum tridentatum. Native of Trinidad, Caribbean and South America, drawn at Mr William Anderson's Chelsea Botanic Gardens

Background imageSouth America Collection: Mullein-leaved lobelia, Lobelia tupa

Mullein-leaved lobelia, Lobelia tupa. Native to Chile, drawn at Samuel Brooke's nursery at Ball's Pond

Background imageSouth America Collection: Megatherium americanum pulling on a palm tree

Megatherium americanum pulling on a palm tree. Extinct species of ground sloth endemic to South America, Early Pliocene to the Pleistocene. Megatherium americanum. Colour printed illustration by F

Background imageSouth America Collection: Tayra, Eira barbara

Tayra, Eira barbara
Tayra, tolomuco, motete, irara, or viejo de monte, Eira barbara 1. Omnivorous weasel from Central and South America. La grande belette, Mustela barbara

Background imageSouth America Collection: Jaguar, Panthera onca, native to the Americas

Jaguar, Panthera onca, native to the Americas
Jaguar, Panthera onca, native to Central and South Americas, known to the indigenous peoples as the yaguara or jaguarete. Le jaguar, Felis onza. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Th

Background imageSouth America Collection: Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yagouaroundi

Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yagouaroundi. Wild cat native to South and Central America, also known as the eyra, gato moro, tigrillo. Le yaguarundi, Felis yaguarundi

Background imageSouth America Collection: White witch moth, Thysania agrippina

White witch moth, Thysania agrippina
White witch, ghost moth, great gray witch or great owlet moth, Thysania agrippina (Phalaena agrippina), dorsal 1, ventral 2. Native to Mexico, Suriname and South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Orinoco lime treefrog and northern orange-legged leaf frog

Orinoco lime treefrog and northern orange-legged leaf frog
Orinoco lime treefrog, Sphaenorhynchus lacteus 1, and northern orange-legged leaf frog or tiger-legged monkey frog, Pithecopus hypochondrialis 2. Both native to South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Air volcanoes near Turbaco, Colombia

Air volcanoes near Turbaco, Colombia. Small volcanic cones that erupt Azote (nitrogen gas) every few minutes. On a plain surrounded by Santos mahogany and pijio trees, water lilies, etc

Background imageSouth America Collection: Marmorea frog, Dendropsophus marmoratus

Marmorea frog, Dendropsophus marmoratus, dorsal 1, ventral 2. Native to the Amazon rainforest and South America. Rainette marbree, Hyla marmorata

Background imageSouth America Collection: Dyeing dart frog, Dendrobates tinctorius

Dyeing dart frog, Dendrobates tinctorius
Dyeing dart frog, dyeing poison dart frog or dyeing poison frog, Dendrobates tinctorius 1, dorsal A, ventral B, juvenile C. Rainette a tapirer, Hyla tinctoria. Native to Suriname and South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Beireis treefrog, Dendropsophus leucophyllatus

Beireis treefrog, Dendropsophus leucophyllatus
Beireis treefrog, white-leaf frog or clown treefrog, Dendropsophus leucophyllatus, Rana leucophyllata, ventral 3, dorsal 4. Found in Suriname

Background imageSouth America Collection: Chimborazo viewed from the Tapia plateau

Chimborazo viewed from the Tapia plateau. Snow-capped inactive stratovolcano in the Andes. In the foreground, Native Americans tend to lamas, cactus, agave, etc. Chimborasso in South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Grey-winged trumpeter bird, Psophia crepitans

Grey-winged trumpeter bird, Psophia crepitans. Agami, l'agami. Native to South America. Psophia crepitans s. ventriloqua

Background imageSouth America Collection: Military macaw, Ara militaris

Military macaw, Ara militaris, in a jungle with domed temple. Native of Mexico and Peru. Great green macaw, Macrocercus militaris

Background imageSouth America Collection: Mexican marigold, Tagetes lucida

Mexican marigold, Tagetes lucida. Sweet Chili Marygold. Native of Chile, South America, in the Hammersmith Nursery of Lee and Kennedy

Background imageSouth America Collection: Barbados lily, Hippeastrum puniceum

Barbados lily, Hippeastrum puniceum. Brasilian lily-daffodil, Amaryllis brasiliensis. Native of Brazil, in the collection of James Vere, Kensington Gore

Background imageSouth America Collection: Corkscrew vine, Cochliasanthus caracalla

Corkscrew vine, Cochliasanthus caracalla. Snail-flowered kidney-bean, Phaseolus caracalla. From Brazil, South America

Background imageSouth America Collection: Scarlet clownheal, Stachys coccinea

Scarlet clownheal, Stachys coccinea
Scarlet clownheal, scarlet hedgenettle, Texas betony, Stachys coccinea. From North to South America, figured in James Vere's garden, Kensington Gore



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