Miller, Robert Rush, part 3 : accession 178294, Arnhem Land, 1948

Abstract

This volume is a collection of notes and other documents related to the Arnhem Land Expedition in Australia, with a focus on fish collections made. The expedition took place from 17 February to 30 October 1948 and concentrated on or near the Northern Territory localities of Groote Eylandt, Yirrkala [Yirrkala Mission], Oenpelli [Oenpelli Mission], and Darwin. Authorship is not clearly stated, but it appears likely that much of the contents of the volume were written by Robert R. Miller. The bulk of the volume comprises field notes that were recorded on Field Data Record sheets of the U. S. National Museum Division of Fishes; these date from 19 March 1948 to 13 October 1948. Data sheet fields include tag number, station number, locality, drainage, date, water, vegetation, time, bottom, shore, current, distance from shore, tide, depth of capture, depth of water, method of capture, collected by, preservative, temp, and air, with space at the bottom half of the sheet for a "list of species or kinds, with tag numbers if drawn or discussed." The bottom half and back of most sheets, and often additional sheets, have extensive notes listing and describing species captured. Colored drawings of fish and hand-drawn maps are sometimes included in the notes. References to photographs are made but photographs are not included in the volume. A tag number index near the front of the volume lists tag number, station number, and page number; tag numbers are in the ranges of U42-942 to U42-975 and S42-381 to S42-952. Also in the volume is a list of fish shipments from the field, lists of tin tag numbers and station numbers for reptiles and crustaceans, correspondence related to specific specimens, and general information pertaining to the expedition such an itinerary and list of members. The last section of the volume is titled "Observations of Periophthalmus, Groote Eylandt, by Robert R. Miller" and includes detailed behavioral observations as well as sketches that map position and microhabitat of fish holes. Related item, Miller, Robert Rush, part 4 : Australian maps, charts, list of expected fishes, collecting outfit, and copies of correspondence, includes maps on which some stations from this expedition are plotted, and also includes notes and correspondence in preparation for the expedition.

Date Range

1948

Start Date

Feb 17, 1948

End Date

Oct 30, 1948

Access Information

At least 24 hours advance notice is recommended to consult this collection. Contact the Division of Fishes at (301) 238-1736 to make an appointment.

Topic

Ichthyology

Place

• Groote Eylandt
• Darwin
• Oenpelli Mission
• Yirrkala Mission
• Australia
• Arnhem Land

Form/Genre

• Fieldbook record
• Field notes
• Sketches

Accession #

SIA RU007220

Collection name

National Museum of Natural History (U.S.), collected notes, lists, catalogs, illustrations, and records on fishes, circa 1835-1974 and undated

Physical Description

1 field book

Physical Location

National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Division of Fishes