Polyzoa XVII
1885-1890
Frederick McCoy’s *Polyzoa XVII* looks less like a biology diagram and more like a blueprint for a microscopic alien city. Created between 1885 and 1890, this plate details various species of bryozoans—tiny colonial animals often called 'moss animals'—showing their intricate, vase-like structures and protective trapdoors (opercula). McCoy, the first director of the National Museum of Victoria, was known for his grumpy demeanor and tendency to hoard specimens from other scientists, yet he produced these incredibly delicate and precise illustrations for his major publication, turning dry scientific data into a surreal visual experience.
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