The bare bones

I accidentally discovered the Grant Museum of Zoology. It was when I went to the Wellcome Collection. Following the bus on my mapping app, I noticed the Grant pop up just down the road. I read about it and decided I had to go and visit. I did that today.

The Grant was Robert Edmond who was very big in Zoology in the 19th century. Among his many achievements was in studying alongside Darwin prior to his writing of On the Origin of Species. Darwin was amazed that Grant followed the theories of Larmarck moving away from the divine explanation of everything. A lot of Grant devotees rightfully claim that Darwin’s theories, for which he is well and deservedly remembered, sprang from seeds planted by Grant.

Grant, moving away from Larmarck to following the teachings of Etienne Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire who believed in a ‘unity of plan’ in nature whereby one could trace how, over time, the simplest of organisms could develop into humans. He claimed this could be done by examining the forms of various parts of the bodies rather than by studying their function.

After a time in Paris, Grant returned to Edinburgh where he studied and, eventually wrote about Comparative Anatomy. He was asked to head up just such a department at the newly established University of London. He almost immediately set up his museum and started stocking it with specimens.

Grant used the museum specimens to demonstrate to his students how animal anatomy worked and related to each organism. It was, primarily, made up of his own collection with a few bits and pieces purchased by the university (he complained that they didn’t buy enough). His collection was gradually eroded (by rats and general student handling) but there are still a few of his originals on show among the almost 30,000 pieces there today.

These days, after many moves, the Grant Museum is still used by students of Zoology but it also serves as a window for museum visitors as well as a primer for little kids, fascinated by the insides of animals. I know this latter thing to be true because there was a lot of them there today.

A platypus

It’s not a very big museum – without having to dodge the kids, it would probably take about half an hour to see the whole place – but absolutely fascinating. One of my favourite exhibits has to be the skeleton of the rock python. Extraordinary and a wonderful glimpse into how adaptation works to the advantage of the fittest.

Looking at the skeletons and animals preserved in formaldehyde, makes it very difficult to believe in some mythical creator. I know that goes against what most people think but if you look closely enough you can see how things have developed and grown naturally rather than supernaturally. Grant did everyone a favour by starting his collection and people are still benefiting from his studies.

The museum is also in a part of London I’ve never really investigated before. (For instance, I found RADA!)

Garden in Tavistock Square

And I shot this less than perfect video just along the road from the museum before heading back home to Farnham.

It was also a gloriously lovely day to be out and about. Thoroughly enjoyed.