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Adams, G.; Kanmacher, F. (1798). Essays on the microscope : containing a practical description of the most improved microscopes; a general history of insects, their transformations, peculiar habits, and œconomy : an account of the various species, and singular properties, of the hydræ and vorticellæ: a description of three hundred and eighty-three animalcula : with a concise catalogue of interesting objects: a view of the organization of timber, and the configuration of salts, when under the microscope. [Book]. 724 pp. Second edition, by the late George Adams, further edited by Kanmacher.
189811
10.5962/bhl.title.87049 [view]
Adams, G.; Kanmacher, F.
1798
Essays on the microscope : containing a practical description of the most improved microscopes; a general history of insects, their transformations, peculiar habits, and œconomy : an account of the various species, and singular properties, of the hydræ and vorticellæ: a description of three hundred and eighty-three animalcula : with a concise catalogue of interesting objects: a view of the organization of timber, and the configuration of salts, when under the microscope
[Book]
724 pp. Second edition, by the late George Adams, further edited by Kanmacher
Publication
Authorship corrected by G. Read (World Polychaeta Database), also see the BHL entry. This work is not by Walker & Jacob, not by Walker & Boys, nor did they author part of it. Walker's multi-word names relate to an earlier work (Boys & Walker 1784, or as Walker & Boys), the names from which are rejected by OPINION 558 of 1959. The account of how these taxa names were in Adams (1798) is below in the abstract. A contemporary source (Turton 1802, English version of Systema naturae) gives the authorship of these names to Adams. Finally Adams names are NOT the same as Boys & Walker's.
Chapter 11, (begins p.629 Adams 1798 p. 629) in which the Serpula and Nautilus names appear has the title as below & is marked as written by the editor, and has the personal pronoun 'I' several times, so is clearly written by one person (Adams or perhaps Kanmacher).
"An arrangement and description of minute and rare shells. — a descriptive list of a variety of vegetable seeds, as they appear when viewed by the microscope." By the editor.
p.630 "In the year 1784, Mr. Walker of Faversham published in quarto a collection of minute shells, which was the joint production of himself and William Boys, Esq. F. S. A. of Sandwich, in Kent, assisted by the late Edward Jacob, Esq. F. S. A. It contains an arrangement and concise description of ninety shells, accompanied with neatly engraved figures of the whole series; the greater part of them as well in their magnified state, as that in which they appear to the naked eye. Specimens of those which are esteemed most curious and rare, I have selected from this work: a reference to the original will afford the reader more complete satisfaction, and possibly animate him to further pursuits."
There is no support from the book content for authorship other than by Adams (or the final editor, Kanmacher) of the words naming the taxa, and to maintain "Walker & Jacob" (why not Boys & Walker?) as the authors is confusing and not useful. The multi-word names of the 1784 work were rejected by Opinion 558 of 1959, and one or both authors (Walker was the true author), and Jacob, were dead by 1798, so they had no input into Adam's work. Jacob's name is only mentioned once in the work, and that in a minor aside. It is significant that contemporary Turton (1802: 609) has Adams as the author of the Serpula names. Past invocations of "Walker & Jacob" as the authors, especially in Foraminifera catalogues, may predate the invalidation of Boys & Walker names by Opinion 558. However, Adams names are just not the same as in Boys & Walker, and the inclusion of Jacob, who made no contribution, is mystifying, so there is no reason to have "Walker & Jacob" authorships,
Adams has six Serpula names as follows:
Serpula Bicornis. Plate XIV. Fig. 2. S. bicornis ventricosa. The bellied semilunar worm-shell. The colour white, opake, and glossy. From Sandwich and Reculver, though not common.
Serpula Perforata. Fig. 3. S. bicornis umbilico perforate. The semilunar perforated worm-shell. The colour white, opake, and glossy. From Sandwich: very rare.
Serpula Lactea. Fig. 4. S. tenuis ovalis Levis. The thin, smooth, egg-shaped worm-shell. The colour pellucid, with milky veins. From Sandwich: not common.
Serpula Lagena Sulcata. Fig. 5. S. (lagena) striata sulcata rotunda. The round striated and furrowed flask worm-shell. The colour whitish, transparent, and glossy. From Sandwich, Reculver, and Shepey: very rare.
Serpula Retorta. Fig. 6. S. (retorta) rotunda marginata service curvatim exerto. The marginated retort worm-shell. The colour white and opake. From Sandwich: not common.
Serpula Incurvata. Fig. 7. S. recta anfractibus tribus contiguis regulariter involutis. The straight horn worm-shell, with three close intorted spires at the tip. The colour white, semitransparent. From Sandwich: rare.
"An arrangement and description of minute and rare shells. — a descriptive list of a variety of vegetable seeds, as they appear when viewed by the microscope." By the editor.
p.630 "In the year 1784, Mr. Walker of Faversham published in quarto a collection of minute shells, which was the joint production of himself and William Boys, Esq. F. S. A. of Sandwich, in Kent, assisted by the late Edward Jacob, Esq. F. S. A. It contains an arrangement and concise description of ninety shells, accompanied with neatly engraved figures of the whole series; the greater part of them as well in their magnified state, as that in which they appear to the naked eye. Specimens of those which are esteemed most curious and rare, I have selected from this work: a reference to the original will afford the reader more complete satisfaction, and possibly animate him to further pursuits."
There is no support from the book content for authorship other than by Adams (or the final editor, Kanmacher) of the words naming the taxa, and to maintain "Walker & Jacob" (why not Boys & Walker?) as the authors is confusing and not useful. The multi-word names of the 1784 work were rejected by Opinion 558 of 1959, and one or both authors (Walker was the true author), and Jacob, were dead by 1798, so they had no input into Adam's work. Jacob's name is only mentioned once in the work, and that in a minor aside. It is significant that contemporary Turton (1802: 609) has Adams as the author of the Serpula names. Past invocations of "Walker & Jacob" as the authors, especially in Foraminifera catalogues, may predate the invalidation of Boys & Walker names by Opinion 558. However, Adams names are just not the same as in Boys & Walker, and the inclusion of Jacob, who made no contribution, is mystifying, so there is no reason to have "Walker & Jacob" authorships,
Adams has six Serpula names as follows:
Serpula Bicornis. Plate XIV. Fig. 2. S. bicornis ventricosa. The bellied semilunar worm-shell. The colour white, opake, and glossy. From Sandwich and Reculver, though not common.
Serpula Perforata. Fig. 3. S. bicornis umbilico perforate. The semilunar perforated worm-shell. The colour white, opake, and glossy. From Sandwich: very rare.
Serpula Lactea. Fig. 4. S. tenuis ovalis Levis. The thin, smooth, egg-shaped worm-shell. The colour pellucid, with milky veins. From Sandwich: not common.
Serpula Lagena Sulcata. Fig. 5. S. (lagena) striata sulcata rotunda. The round striated and furrowed flask worm-shell. The colour whitish, transparent, and glossy. From Sandwich, Reculver, and Shepey: very rare.
Serpula Retorta. Fig. 6. S. (retorta) rotunda marginata service curvatim exerto. The marginated retort worm-shell. The colour white and opake. From Sandwich: not common.
Serpula Incurvata. Fig. 7. S. recta anfractibus tribus contiguis regulariter involutis. The straight horn worm-shell, with three close intorted spires at the tip. The colour white, semitransparent. From Sandwich: rare.
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