Imaginary animals

One of the most likeable genres of art and illustration: pictures of animals by people who have never seen them.

The three lithographs below are from illustrations by Charles Alexander Lesueur, naturalist and artist on Baudin's expedition to Australia in 1801.

Lesueur collected thousands of specimens and no doubt saw plenty of Australian animals in the flesh -- but evidently the maker of these prints had something else in mind.

The kangaroo is magnificent and the wombats are cute, but neither is quite like the real thing. I don't think the long-tailed rabbit-mouse exists at all.

---