I have put a new book from our Special Collections on display in the library: Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition auf dem Dampfer “Valdivia” 1898-1899, im Auftrage des Reichsamtes desInnern, herausgegeben von Carl Chun. Fünfzehnter Band. Die Tiefsee-Fische, bearbeitet von August Brauer. 1. Systematischer Teil. Jena: Verlag von Gustav Fischer; 1908. Balfour Library class mark: Fauna 364 (19).
The book is open at: Tafel 1: Gigantura Chuni, A. Brauer; Winteria Telescopa, A. Brauer; Opisthroproctus soleatus, Vaillant. The deep-sea fish displayed here are from the Actinopterygii subclass of ray-finned fish, which includes the majority of living bony fish of sea and fresh water. The fins are composed of a membranous web of skin supported by a varying number of spines and soft rays.
The lithographic printing technique has been used to create the amazing and lifelike iridescent colouring of the fish, and manages to turn somewhat ugly creatures into almost beautiful ones!
Come and view this amazing work in the library!
