Allan Octavian Hume – “Pope” of South Asian Ornithology — IISc, Bangalore, October 5, 2016

  • On:
    October 5, 2016
  • Timing:
    5:00PM to 6:00PM
  • Location:
    Centre for Ecological Sciences, Biological Sciences Building Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Robert Prys-Jones, Head, Bird Group, Natural History Museum, Tring, speaks on: Allan Octavian Hume – “Pope” of South Asian Ornithology.

This event is open to all.

Allan Octavian Hume, known for founding the Indian National Congress, is a major figure in Indian ornithology. He built up one of the largest private collections of bird specimens from the Indian Subcontinent and founded Stray Feathers, the first regional ornithology journal.

348px-A_O_Hume

Allan Octavian Hume (1829–1912)

His vast collection was gifted to the then British Museum (the natural history section is now the Natural History Museum) and are now overseen by Dr Prys-Jones and his colleagues at Tring. 

Dr Prys-Jones is one of the last ornithologists to have seen the now extinct Aldabra brush warbler and was, along with Pamela Rasmussen, instrumental in unearthing the Meinertzhagen scandal which also led to the rediscovery of the Forest Owlet. More recently he was involved in studies that shed light on the enigmatic Large-billed Reed Warbler, described from a single specimen by Hume in 1869 and whose status remained unclear for over 130 years. He will be talking about Hume’s legacy and the scientific wealth hidden in the collections.

For his contributions, Hume has been called “the Father of Indian Ornithology” and, the “Pope” of South Asian Ornithology.” 

A recent biographical note on Hume by the speaker can be found here.

More about the speaker can be found here

IMPORTANT: Please note that it is at 5 PM and NOT 6 PM as earlier announced on some channels.

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