Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 94. (Budapest 2002)

Matskási, I.: Bicentenary of the Hungarian Natural History Museum

Bolca, in the vicinity of Verona, are of outstanding value. Nearly half a century after its foundation, the Department counts already more than 5,000 fossils and even the number of large mammalian bones exceeds 100. The rate of enrichment in the 1850s is even higher than ever before. These were the years when the palaeobotanical collection evolved as a result of GYULA KO VATS'

s, a plant-collector's, work. Count KÁROLY FORGÁCH donated a find of Ichthyosaurus he explored in Dorsetshire. The 1860s are fairly productive as well. MlKSA HANTKEN's rich invertebrate collection originating from the Bakony Mountains and Germany, Duke JOSEPH LOBKOWlTZ's magnificent palaeobotanical collection (several thousand items) coming from Bilin (Bohemia). Besides the ones mentioned hitherto some other highly spectacular acquisitions are to be pinpointed such as a primitive elephant's (Deinotherium) jaw from Transylvania, primitive mammals' bones from Sárkánykút, a primitive stag's horn from Dunaföldvár, and some excellent specimens collected by ISTVÁN TORR in Italy. In 1870 the mineral, rock and fossil collections were merged into a selfstanding department, the Department of Mineralogy and Palaeontology. Later on the collection showed a rapid and significant growth attributable to the synergy of three major factors: the far-reaching scientific and museology-related work of, even in international terms, eminent specialists (MIKSA HANTKEN, senior LAJOS LÓCZY, ÁGOSTON FRANZENAU), and ANDOR SEMSEY's extensive patronage, and state donations that were rendered on a regular basis (6,000 crowns in 1902). The size of the collection almost doubled before the turn of the century. Thanks to ANDOR SEMSEY'

s generosity, hundreds of valuable fossils enriched the collection. Items standing out of the collection: the enormous specimens of primitive crocodiles coming from Lower Jura, Holzmaden; Ichthyosaurus specimens with one of the most beautiful skin impressions among them; a 'bunch of sea lilies' (Pentacrinus) of unique size and beauty, a 2.3 m long Teleosaurus; the imprint of a large Lepidotus; small-sized flying lizards from the Upper Jura of Solnhofen mounted in a masterly manner; well-preserved primitive dragonflies, crabs, planktonic echinoderms; a car wheel-sized ammonite, the Placenticeras, revealed in a bed of Cretaceous period, in Dakota (USA); well-preserved fish imprints originating from the Eocene beds of Monte Bolca and Wyoming; a perfectly preserved sabre-tooth tiger (Smilodori) skull from the asphaltic lake near Los Angeles, Glyptodon shells from the Pleistocene of Patagonia. Paradoxically enough, collecting gained another momentum after World War I, despite the fact that there arose fewer opportunities for that. This could primarily be attributed to the industrious staff of the Department who spent a remarkable part of their working time (several months a year) on collecting tours. Mining special-