How Owen 'stole' the Dodo: academic rivalry and disputed rights to a newly-discovered subfossildeposit in nineteenth century Mauritius

摘要

The discovery of the first fossil Dodo remains in the Mare aux Songes marsh, Mauritius, in 1865 resulted in a race to publishon the Dodo's post-cranial anatomy. George Clark, probable discoverer of the fossil site, sent consignments of bonesinitially to Richard Owen (British Museum), and subsequently to Alfred Newton, Cambridge, via Alfred's brother Edward,who was stationed on Mauritius. After receiving the first consignment, Owen intercepted material intended for Alfred, andabused his position to forestall any complaints from Alfred. Owen published on the Dodo first, while Clark was financiallyrewarded, but Clark's ensuing arguments over the site discovery with railway engineer, Harry Higginson, and attempt tocover up the abundance of Dodo bones, thus keeping prices high, concluded in a bitter rivalry that was never resolvedbetween Owen and the Newton brothers.