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Jerdon, Thomas Caverhill (1811-1872)
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Thomas Caverhill Jerdon (1811 - 1872) was a British physician, zoologist and botanist. Jerdon was born in County Durham near Jedburgh and studied at Edinburgh University. He became assistant-surgeon in the British East India Company, stationed in India and later Surgeon Major in the Madras Regiment Jerdon started collecting birds shortly after his arrival in India on 21 February 1836. He was in the 2nd Light Cavalry for the next four years posted in the Deccan and Eastern Ghats. After his marriage to Flora Macleod, niece of general L. W. Watson, in July 1841, he was posted to the Nilgiri Hills. Flora had an interest in botanical art and took an interest in orchids. Around 1845 the Jerdon's lived in their Ooty home Woodside, and their children were baptised at the local St. Stephens church. This was followed by a posting to Nellore where he interacted with the tribes and obtained information on the natural history. He was frequently at Fort St. George in 1844-47. He was appointed Civil Surgeon at Tellicherry in 1847 and remained there until 1851.
ANT TAXONOMY
Formica longipes sp. n.