Friedrich Wilhelm Meves

He experimentally demonstrated cosmetic colouration in lammergeiers and mechanical sound production involved in the drumming displays of snipes.

Meves was born in Delligsen, in the duchy of Braunschweig to pastor Ludvig Christian Friedrich and Augusta Wilhelmine née Lüders.

His father died in 1827 and Meves was taken care of by his maternal grandfather pastor Lüders in Braunschweig.

When Carl Jacob Sundevall visited Kiel in 1841 he offered Meves a position at the Riksmuseum in Stockholm.

[1] Meves was able to demonstrate using chemical analysis that the reddish coloration of adult lammergeiers and of their outside of the eggs was caused by iron oxide.