Animal Architecture

Birds

Corals

Insects

Invertebrates

Mammals

Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish

Shells

Dr Michael Hansell, of Glasgow University's Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences: Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, is a world authority on animal building behaviour. In the course of his studies and travels he has built up an extensive collection of animal artefacts, mainly bird and insect nests but other fascinating items such as minute sandgrain houses of protozoa or spider egg cases that are tiny perfect cubes. In 1998, in order to further his research aims, Dr Hansell initiated a scheme, the National Nest Reference Collection, to build up the numbers and coverage of British bird species. In 1999, in collaboration with Dr Hansell, the Hunterian devised and presented the well received 'Animal Construction Company' exhibition, a celebration of animal architecture and part of the 'Glasgow 1999, City of Architecture and Design' festival.

In 2000, the Hunterian was delighted to accept the donation of Dr Hansell's growing collection. The museum is now engaged in the cataloguing and management of the collection.