In the 19th century, natural history was a field dominated by men: collectors, curators and naturalists. Names such as John Gould and John James Audubon are well known for their contributions to ornithology.
Far less familiar is Jane Catherine Tost (nee Ward, 1816–1889), a skilled taxidermist and naturalist who worked alongside leading figures of her era, and became the first woman employed in a professional role at an Australian museum.
