'Checklist of the Mollusca of Tasmania' (1921) and 'New Marine Mollusca' (1923) by William Lewis May (1861-1925), Tasmania

Abstract

Publications 'Checklist of the Mollusca of Tasmania' and its supplement 'Illustrated Index of Tasmanian Shells' by William Lewis May, otherwise known as Lewis, who was born in 1861 in South Australia, the eldest son of William and Mary May (nee Cotton) and together with the rest of his family created a fine orchard and homes in Sandford. He had many interests such as entomology, botany and gardening and traced the genealogical history of his own family. However it is for his shell collections that he is best known.For many years he concentrated on the study of shells amassing one of the best collections of English shells outside England and one of the best collections of Australian and Tasmanian shells in the world. He created exquisite drawings of shells which were published to illustrate his book on the subject. He also painted Tasmanian wildflowers and birds and found time to be Clerk of Monthly Meeting for 15 years, was on the Standing Committee of the Society and on the Committee of the Friends' High School. Cent RoySoc QL 428.M3 and Cent RoySoc QL 428.M39 1923