Item PZ 8.4 Lithographic colour proof - Lewin's Day-moth, The Loranthus Day-moth, and The Vine Day-moth, Arthur Bartholomew

Summary

Full colour proof by Arthur Bartholomew (as both artist and lithographer), depicting the life stages and host plants of three moth species: the Owlet Moth (Phalaenoides tristifica), the Mistletoe Moth (Comocrus behri), and the Grapevine Moth (Phalaenoides glycinaei). This work was commissioned by Frederick McCoy, the first Director of The National Museum of Victoria, for Plate 8 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 these species as: Agarista lewin, Lewin's Day-moth (Figs 1-4); Agaristes casuarinae, The Loranthus Day-moth (Figs 5-8); and Agaristes glycine, The Vine Day-moth (Figs 9-13).

This print 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 Unfortunately, almost 90 plates in the collection remain unpublished, and hundreds of illustrations were either not completed or not printed.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

Vine Moths, Phalaenoides tristifica (Hubner)/ Comocrus behri (Angas) / Phalaenoides glycinae Lew. by Arthur Bartholomew. Lithographic ink on paper, 28cm x 19cm. Published as part of Plate 8 in The Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria by Frederick McCoy .