Rediscovery of a lost type specimen of Alexander Wilson

Many authors have written about the new bird species discovered by members of the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804–1806), but the history of one species in particular – Oreortyx pictus (mountain quail) – has remained elusive. Primary sources confirm that Lewis returned from the expedition with a specimen (now missing), which he deposited in the Philadelphia Museum. However, for unexplained reasons, the specimen was overlooked by Alexander Wilson and other ornithologists. Here, I review primary sources from the expedition and its aftermath, including novel sources that resolve this long-standing puzzle.

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Rediscovery of a lost type specimen of Alexander Wilson

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Rediscovery of the holotype of the American Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis atricapillus (Wilson, 1812), and a commentary about Alexander Wilson's contributions to the Peale Museum

Rediscovery of the holotype of the American Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis atricapillus (Wilson, 1812), and a commentary about Alexander Wilson's contributions to the Peale Museum

The forgotten history of Oreortyx pictus (mountain quail), discovered by the Lewis and Clark expedition, 1806

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