U.S Naval Expedition Volume 2 - 1855
This image is the title page for Volume II of The U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52, a significant 19th-century scientific publication. (Google AI)This volume specifically focuses on reports of journeys across the Andes and Pampas, along with appendices detailing natural history and other observations. Publication DetailsMain Title: The U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52Volume: Volume IIExpedition Leader: Lieutenant J. M. GillissPublisher: A. O. P. Nicholson, Printer, for the House of RepresentativesYear of Publication: MDCCCLVI (1856) Volume ContentsThe contents of Volume II primarily feature natural history and topographical reports from the expedition's findings in Chile, the Andes, and the Pampas. It includes the following sections and contributors: "Report of journeys across the Andes and Pampas of the Argentine provinces" by Lieutenant Archibald MacRaeAppendices covering:Minerals (by L. J. Smith)Botany (by Asa Gray, W. Starling Sullivant, and others)Zoology (by Spencer F. Baird and Charles Girard)Ornithology (Birds)Mammalogy, herpetology, and ichthyologyConchology (Shells)Indian languages and an ethnology report Historical ContextThe expedition, led by Lieutenant James Melville Gilliss, was initially intended to make astronomical observations in Chile to determine a more accurate calculation for the solar parallax, a crucial measurement for navigation. While the initial mission faced challenges, the resulting multi-volume publication became renowned for its detailed scientific descriptions and lithographs of the natural history and culture of South America. ...
