June Gallery

Coloured Engraving of a dodo

Engraving of a dodo, an extinct, flightless bird, related to the pigeon. The size of a swan, it was heavily-built and clumsy. Two species were known with certainty: the common dodo Raphus cucullatus from Mauritius, which became extinct between 1665 and 1670, and the Rodriguez solitaire Pezophaps solitaria from the neighbouring island of Rodriguez, which died out around 1761. The dodo's numbers quickly dwindled following the arrival of humans to these isolated habitats. All but defenceless, they were ill-equipped to cope with the new hunters & the competition from other introduced species. Copper engraving from Historia Naturalis Brasiliae, W. Piso & G. Marcgrave, 1658

© DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

View of several acupuncture needles

Acupuncture needles. View of several needles used in acupuncture. Acupuncture has been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years. It involves inserting needles into parts of the body along energy lines known as meridians. It is used to treat a variety of conditions including rheumatic and arthritic pain, allergies, digestion disorders, insomnia and stress. Tense muscles can be relaxed by insertions. It is thought that the needles stimulate the body to produce endorphins, which act as the body's natural painkillers. Acupuncture can also be used for the treatment of addictions. Usually symptoms start to be relieved after around four sessions

© TEK IMAGE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY