Henry Reeve, Scott's Lodge, 15 College Street, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, Surrey Street, Norwich, [Norfolk]

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Ref No GB-110/JES/COR/8/85
Title Henry Reeve, Scott's Lodge, 15 College Street, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, Surrey Street, Norwich, [Norfolk]
Letter date 16 Dec 1802
Author(s) Henry Reeve 1780-1814
Number of Pages 4

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GB-110/JES/COR/8/85 from Henry Reeve, Scott's Lodge, 15 College Street, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, Surrey Street, Norwich, [Norfolk] (16 December 1802)

Metadata for GB-110/JES/COR/8/85 from Henry Reeve, Scott's Lodge, 15 College Street, Edinburgh, to James Edward Smith, Surrey Street, Norwich, [Norfolk] (16 December 1802) Close

Item data

Item Type: Document
From: Reeve, Henry
Sent from: Edinburgh
To: Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location: Norwich, Norfolk
Summary:

Intends to publish a thesis on animal hibernation, comments and queries: complains that many authors on it are inaccurate; has compiled information from [John] Hunter [(1728-1793) surgeon], [Peter Simon] Pallas, [Daines] Barrington [(1727-1800) lawyer and naturalist], [Johann] Gmelin, [Bernard Germain de] La Cepede [(1756-1825) naturalist], [John] Gough [(1757-1825) natural and experimental philosopher], [Georges-Louis Leclerc] Buffon [(1707-1788) naturalist], and others; asks if the dissertations on hibernation listed in Sir Joseph Banks' "Catalogu[s bibliothecae historico-naturalis]" vol 2 p449 include observations on animal temperatures etc.; proposes to observe hedgehogs. Asks if there are anatomical differences, including in the omentum, of swallows, martins and other birds which supposedly hibernate. Asks if the annual migration of birds is a "well-established fact" in light of swallows and others being found torpid in winter, concludes it sometimes does occur but thinks it impossible for birds to live underwater. Has not yet learnt whether fish hibernate.

Letter date: 16 Dec 1802
Languages: English
Prev Ref No: 8.152
Additional Information:
Note typeNote
Related MaterialBanks, J S, and Dryander, J, (1798). "Catalogus bibliothecae historico-naturalis Josephi Banks ..." Londini: Bulmer. Reeve, H, (1809). "An essay on the torpidity of animals." London: Longman.
AdditionalSmith replied 24 [Dec 1802]