The Fauna Observed While Sailing the Pacific

Pigafetta's Journal

A remarkable chronicler from Vicenza traveled aboard the expedition captained by Magellan.

“Inasmuch as, most illustrious and excellent Lord, there are many curious persons who not only take pleasure in knowing and hearing the great and wonderful things that God has permitted me to see and suffer during my long and dangerous voyage … but who also wish to know the means and manners and paths that I have taken in making that voyage; and who do not lend full credence to the end unless they have a perfect assurance of the beginning … I determined … to experience myself and to see those things that might satisfy me somewhat, and that might grant me some renown with posterity.”

Antonio Pigafetta to Philippe de Villiers de L’Isle-Adam, Grand Master of Rhodes.

Many of his descriptions of the natural world might bring to mind the fantastical imaginings found in the writings of medieval voyagers such as Marco Polo or Pedro Tafur.

Pigafetta's entries, however, were generally based on direct observation, and therefore his descriptions, while seemingly far-fetched, clearly reflect the mentality and view of the world 500 years ago.

It was a world in which every new journey provided an opportunity to discover curiosities and wonderment never seen before.

A new world, circumnavigated for the first time, whose mysteries would be uncovered little by little on epic expeditions like this one.

The aim of this exhibition is to compare our historical collections with some of the animal species that Pigafetta described in his journal.

In order to do so, we have taken a series of high-resolution photographs that reveal every detail of these valuable pieces.

We have also included a number of prints from the Van Berkhey Collection, kept in the archive at Spain's National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN). This extensive collection of iconography is a unique example of scientific drawings from the 18th century. It is also an extraordinary body of artwork.

Although there are many species of flying fish skimming the oceans, it is quite probable that it is this one Pigafetta specifically refers to in his journal.

With an average length of around 8 inches (20 cm), though occasionally reaching 12 inches (30 cm), and found in subtropical waters all over the globe, the blackwing flyingfish is a favorite prey for other large fish such as sea bream, tuna and bonito.

Sailors the world over still see the frenetic hunting sprees that Pigafetta described, and seabirds often join the melee to catch the flying fish from the air.

Saltwater crocodiles are very common in Palawan, especially on the southern islands, where there are numerous attacks on humans. They are a protected species, resulting in frequent conflicts between the locals and authorities across the region.

This description might seem like pure fantasy, but it corresponds perfectly to the small horned boxfish or longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta). This is another example proving Pigafetta's worth as an observer of nature.

With two small horns, a long face, and a body covered in hard, hexagonal scales forming a kind of solid shell, the longhorn cowfish is unmistakable. The saddle that Pigafetta mentions could even refer to the large spine that some species have along their backs.

This is very likely the first description of a leaf insect by a European. The explorers found themselves to the south of Palawan at that time, on the island of Balabac. There are various species of leaf insects in that area, some of which fit Pigafetta's description exactly.

These insects, together with stick insects, make up a family known as phasmids, whose most striking feature is their ability to camouflage themselves perfectly in their habitat. It is easy to imagine Pigafetta marveling at the wonder of what he thought to be a walking leaf.

Birds of paradise were considered divine animals for many years. This belief was reinforced when the skins that Pigafetta described arrived at the Spanish court. Birds like these had never before been seen in Europe and, for a long time, the only information about these animals came from legends, and specimens that arrived already dead.

According to the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in his book The Malay Archipelago, the natives' method of preservation involved cutting off their wings and legs, wrapping them in palm leaves, and smoking them dry in a hut. This would explain the widely held belief that these birds had no wings or legs, as well as the dark color of all the feathers, except those on the crest.

As for the legs that Pigafetta described—slender like a writing pen, and a span in length—perhaps he was referring to the two long, dark, tubular feathers that stand out among the rest.