The collections of bird skins (approx. 20,000 specimens), mainly of
Swedish origin, but also including exotic species, were well under way
already in the 19th century.
Also our avian egg collections of
mainly Swedish and European birds are important, especially the
collections of clutches containing cuckoo eggs.
We also have a
worldwide collection of approx. 400 bird and 200 mammalian articulated
skeletons, representing almost as many species.
Recent
collections represent a large gathering of small mammals, around 9,000
specimens, from Northernmost Fennoscandia, together with their
ecto-parasites.
In the 19th century, extensive excavations were
carried out in south Swedish bogs and carrs with the intention of
extracting peat for heating purposes and to improve soil quality in
agriculture. These excavations uncovered a great deal of subfossil bones
and antlers from Holocene mammals. Large quantities of these bones were
purchased by Sven Nilsson (1787-1883), professor and head of the museum,
and successors, and are now in the custody of the museum.
Page Manager: Sigvard Svensson Webmaster: Michael
Sellers
Publisher: Lunds universitets biologiska museer
Last modified 25 Oct 2007
