Summary

Hand coloured proof of a Lowland Copperhead, Austrelaps superbus, by Arthur Bartholomew. This work was commissioned by Frederick McCoy, the first Director of The National Museum of Victoria, for Plate 2 in The Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria; Figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victoria indigenous animals. McCoy referred to this species as Hoplocephalus superbus, The Copper-head Snake. McCoy notes that the species "... is very common about Prahran, Elsternwick, and other south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, but its range seems very restricted, specimens not having yet been recorded from the north or western parts of the colony."

This proof forms part of the much larger Prodromus Collection. Many of the original illustrations and prints in the collection informed the production of The Prodromus, the first major publication of the National Museum of Victoria. Between 1878 and 1890, McCoy published his zoology 'Prodromus' as 20 parts in two volumes, with each part comprising 20 plates. Unfortunately, almost 90 plates in the collection remain unpublished, and hundreds of illustrations were either not completed or not printed.

Description of Content

Lowland Copperhead Snake, Austrelaps superbus (Günther, 1858) by Arthur Bartholomew. Image from publication, lithographic ink and watercolour on paper. Published as Plate 2 in The Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria by Frederick McCoy.

More Information