UP CLOSE: FROM THe COlleCTION UP CLOSE: FROM THe COlleCTION

A MATTER oF BUSTED! THE cASE HoNoUR oF THE SMUGGLED STAG

n This seventeenth-century sword, However, the Sydney press fuelled the Museum to view the sword. n Why does the Museum hold a katana (below), symbolises a rumours that the Japanese were The david family donated the sword 600 specimens of an endangered very special relationship between engaging in espionage, and played to the Museum in 1979. species of stag in its on a general fear of asian influence, collection? Read on, as research a Japanese scientific expedition and While its connection with lieutenant resulting in hostility and a lack of scientist Chris Reid relates a tale of australia. Collection Coordinator, Shirase and its more recent history human greed and science on trial. Barrina South, relates the story. official support for the expedition. is indeed unique, this sword is a In 1910, a private Japanese Seeing the expedition’s plight, masterpiece of craftsmanship in early in 2003, Taronga Zoo phoned anyone can name a species, but But the further charge of ‘significant expedition led by lieutenant Nobu Professor Tannatt david (later its own right. It is considered to be to ask if I would come over to whether that ‘species’ has any damage’ hinged on the meaning one of the best surviving examples of ‘significant’ – a keyword that Shirase joined the international Sir david) – an antarctic veteran, identify some Lamprima stag beetles legitimacy in the natural world is of the work of the left-handed not even the federal government race to the South Pole. You may Sydney University academic and at the quarantine facility there. another matter. The defence claimed master sword maker Mutsu no Kami representatives seemed able to recall that the Norwegian Roald Trustee of the australian Museum – They had nearly a thousand among other things that the lord Kaneyasu. It carries his signature define adequately, with the result amundsen took line honours, stepped in to provide a voice of specimens of this magnificent beetle, Howe was just a blow-in engraved in the tang (base) of the bright metallic green and each the that this charge was thrown out. reaching the pole on 14 december reason and defended the Japanese from the mainland. The prosecution blade with other inscriptions on size of the last joint of your thumb, 1911, followed by the Briton Robert as fellow scientists. The professor met had to show that this beetle was after almost a year, the original the sword’s more recent wooden intercepted in baggage at Sydney Scott some five weeks later. with lieutenant Shirase several times indeed Lamprima insularis and guilty plea went through, and the handles and sheaths (shirasaya). airport. about half of them were to discuss plans and exchange stories. furthermore that it was a valid collectors, now considerably out of The Shirase polar expedition struck He even provided copies of personal still alive in boxes of woodpulp. pocket in legal and living expenses, Barrina South is Collection species unique to the island, not problems and never quite reached notes from his own antarctic trip were each fined $200 plus two years Coordinator, Anthropology Identifying Lamprima species can just some mistake by an ignorant its goal but, along the way, and helped smooth relations in prison, suspended. The National Collections, at the Australian Museum. be tricky – there are seven described dilettante masquerading as a discovered a different sort of honour, between the Japanese expedition Parks & Wildlife Service had returned species in australia – so I set off to taxonomist in the nineteenth century. as well as scientific comradeship and 02 and the Sydney authorities. The Shirase sword is not on general display. compare the contraband species the surviving beetles safely to the 03 respect. It began when the Japanese below: Japanese dignitaries and the crew of When it comes to telling species island early in the case, and the By November, the expedition was with voucher specimens and found expedition set sail for antarctica the Japanese navy icebreaker Shirase visiting apart, taxonomists focus on Museum got to keep the dead ones. ready for its second attempt at they perfectly matched Lamprima in the Kainan Maru, leaving Tokyo the Museum to view the Shirase sword (left). genitalia because, like a lock the pole. Before leaving, lieutenant Photo Carl Bento. insularis, known only from lord Harbour in december 1910. The crew and key, differences can prevent Dr Chris Reid is a research scientist Shirase presented Professor david Howe Island, a World Heritage area. of 27 men reached the Ross Sea in interbreeding and thus maintain at the Australian Museum. with his sword – a very rare act of The two defendants – a professional March 1911, only to be repelled by the separation of species. above: Female Lamprima species, with honour – as the highest expression breeder and a wealthy the lord Howe Stag Beetle (centre). adults foul weather and treacherous ice. Fortunately the genitalic differences of his gratitude and respect. The collector, claiming to be tourists can reach 2 cm in length. Photo Kindi Smith. between the lord Howe species In need of repairs and supplies, katana, the long sword of the – were citizens of Japan, where below, left: detail of male lord Howe Stag the Kainan Maru sailed into Sydney samurai, is imbued with great stag beetles, dead or alive, are and those on the mainland backed Beetle, Lamprima insularis. The brushes Harbour on 1 May 1911 to a mixed cultural significance, and the awe highly prized. They pleaded guilty up the differences in mandibles on the beetle’s ‘antlers’ may be used for collecting plant nectar. Photo Carl Bento. reception. at Parsley Bay, the in which this gesture is held in to the collection and attempted (jaws) noted when the species was Japanese expedition camp became Japan is evidenced by the stream export of australian fauna, but not described in 1885, and I was able below, right: an army of smuggled beetles surrounds the Museum’s original something of a curiosity to local of dignitaries who regularly visit guilty to causing significant damage to convince the judge that this specimens collected over the last 100 years. children and weekend visitors. to a World Heritage area. was indeed a separate species. Photo Carl Bento.

Explore September to November 2007 Explore September to November 2007 reproduced from Explore 29(5) p3 © Australian Museum 2007