Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara.... [Zoology, Vol. II]

1868

Expedition Reports Q115 N9 1857h Bd. 2

[Vienna: Imperial and Royal Court and State Printers]

The Austro-Hungarian naval frigate, Novara, set sail from Trieste (now in Italy) on the 30th April, 1857. The 345-strong crew and seven scientific staff were charged with making oceanographic, hydrographic and geomagnetic observations on their circuitous trip around the world. The ship covered almost 84,000 kilometres and the scientists collected about 25,000 specimens – some of which are still being studied today. Among the items brought back were the leaves of a cocaine plant, from which the first pure cocaine was extracted in 1860; and this species of rock lobster from off the coast of Australia.