Meet Newt: how to be an explorer

From roaring dragons to mischievous Nifflers, the wizarding world created by J K Rowling is full of remarkable animals.

Newton Artemis Fido Scamander, known as Newt, is a Magizoologist - a wizard who studies magical beasts.

In the film adaptations of Fantastic Beasts, Newt is played by actor Eddie Redmayne. He travels the world observing and working to protect fantastic beasts.

He uses his knowledge to write the A to Z of magical creatures, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them™.

During his travels across five continents, Newt encountered many magical species, from Billywigs buzzing around Australia to Thunderbirds creating storms over North America.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

'I offer this work as a mere introduction to the wealth of fantastic beasts that inhabit our world.'
– Newt Scamander

Packing for a magical expedition

Newt carries all the tools he needs to study and care for fantastic beasts inside a leather case.

Though it seems ordinary, the case is actually a doorway into Newt's enchanted workspace, which includes a shed as well as habitats for magical creatures.

Newt can hide the contents of the case from non-wizards by flicking a small switch that makes it Muggleworthy.

Exploring the natural world

Over the centuries, many explorers and naturalists like Newt travelled all over the globe to study the natural world.

The observations and collections they made during these travels helped pave the way for scientists who research, understand and protect the natural world today.

It is, however, important to recognise the challenging legacy of this work, which was enabled and driven by European colonialism.

Insect-collecting equipment

The Natural History Museum houses a collection assembled by entomologist Michael Chalmers-Hunt (1920–2004) featuring equipment used to collect and study insects during the 1800s and 1900s.

This net, from around 1940, was used for catching insects.

Glass pooters were used to pick up delicate insects.

Insect pins, like these from around 1900, were used to pin insects in specimen boxes.

Fowler's black treacle was used to lure moths. This tin is from the 1940s.

This breeding cage was made from a wooden crate and used during the 1900s.

A silver-plated magnifying glass, from around 1940.

An explorer's kit

This equipment was used by botanist Nicholas Polunin (1909-1997), who went on plant-collecting expeditions to the Arctic from 1930 to 1960.

This framed rucksack was used to carry supplies.

Leather walking boots with hobnails to improve grip.

First aid kit – an essential for any explorer.

First published in 1854, this book, Hints to Travellers: Scientific and General, was a how-to guide full of advice for explorers.

Exploring a world full of butterflies

Margaret Fountaine (1862–1940) kept this sketchbook, detailing the life stages of butterflies she'd observed around the world between 1931 and 1939.

A traveller's sketchbook

This notebook full of paintings by Olivia Tonge (1858-1949) records some of the animals and plants she encountered during her travels between 1908 and 1913.