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Joan Beauchamp Procter (5 August 1897 – 20 September 1931) was a notable zoologist, internationally recognised as an outstanding herpetologist. She worked initially at the British Museum (Natural History) and later for the Zoological Society of London, as the first female Curator of Reptiles at London Zoo. Her short life was afflicted by chronic ill-health, but she undertook substantial taxonomic work and made significant innovative contributions to veterinary practice and zoo displays. She also wrote scientific and popular zoological articles, including early accounts of the behaviour of captive Komodo dragons. == Early life == Joan Procter was born in London on 5 August 1897, at 11 Kensington Square,〔Cambridge, UK. GCPP Procter 5/1/8 (former reference: MSS 7), Girton College Archive. Index and summary online at http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0271%2FGCPP%20Procter%205%2F1%2F8〕 the daughter of Joseph Procter, a stockbroker, and Elizabeth Procter (née Brockbank), an artist. Her grandfather, William Brockbank, was a wealthy Manchester businessman, a patron of the arts and an accomplished amateur naturalist. Family interests in the arts and sciences influenced both Joan and her older sister, Chrystabel Procter (b. 1894). The family homes had large gardens, which facilitated the sisters’ childhood pursuits in natural history. While still at Norland Place School (1904–1908), Joan Procter developed a special interest in amphibians and reptiles. From the age of ten she kept several snakes and lizards as pets. She became familiar with all the British species of reptile. A large Dalmatian lizard was a special pet, which travelled everywhere with her and sat on the table beside her at mealtimes.〔Anon. 1931. Obituary: Miss Joan Procter – A zoologist of genius, ''The Times'', London, 21 September, page 14. Available at http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/〕 She was a sickly child, but, as a twelve-year-old, she spent an active six months in Switzerland enjoying dancing, tobogganing, and botany. This was the only time when she was relatively free of the chronic intestinal illness that afflicted her throughout the rest of her life.〔 Her fascination with reptiles developed further during her time at St Paul's Girls' School, Hammersmith (1908–1916). When she was sixteen, she acquired a young crocodile as a pet and took it with her to school, resulting in consternation in a mathematics lesson.〔Bailes, Howard. 2004. Procter, Joan Beauchamp (1897–1931), ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. Oxford University Press. ISBN 019861411X. Also available at http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/73713〕 She was said to be a "brilliant" student, but her education was frequently interrupted because of chronic ill-health. Although she showed great promise, illness led to her abandoning the idea of going to Cambridge University.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joan Beauchamp Procter」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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