The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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William, the Younger Byrd (28 Mar 1674 - 26 Aug 1744)

Alias William, the Younger Bird [Alias]

Colonist, lawyer, surveyor, naturalist, and a man of letters. Elected FRS 29 April 1696 in London before returning briefly to Virginia. He presented to the Royal Society a live rattlesnake and live opossum, as well as the shed skin of a rattlesnake and "an artificial Cup made to resemble Agatt" (Woodfin, 29-32). Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/68334 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Byrd_II Donator of object(s)
 Relevant locations: Birth place in Virginia, United States
 Relationships: William, the Younger Byrd was a member of Royal Society (-)
William, the Younger Byrd was a friend of Robert Southwell (1635-1702)

William, the Elder Byrd (1652-1704) was a father of William, the Younger Byrd
Linked print sources: as Subject of/in a document - William Byrd and the Royal Society.
 References in Documents:
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)

THISThis Animal was brought from Virginia, and presented to the Royal Society, by Will Bird, Esq; and kept alive in their Repository for some time. But of late languishing and falling from its Meat, it died. The Cause of its Death we shall see, when we come to the Dissection: But first of all, we shall take notice of the several Names given it by different Authors: Then shall give a more exact Description and Figure of its outward Shape: And last of all, we shall observe the Structure and Formation of the Parts within; especially where different from other Animals.