Holst, P. August

P. August Holst was a Swedish or Norwegian naturalist and specimen collector who operated in East Asia during the late 19th century. He is best known for gathering rare zoological and ornithological specimens on expeditions to Japan, the Bonin Islands, and Taiwan for prominent British scientists. In 1889, Holst travelled to the Bonin Islands. Between 1893 and 1894, he explored Taiwan (then Formosa), where he ascended Mount Yushan and collected significant zoological and botanical specimens. He was heavily associated with the prominent ornithologist Henry Seebohm. Holst's collections in Japan and the Bonin Islands formed a crucial foundation for Seebohm's landmark 1890 publication, The Birds of the Japanese Empire. His dedication to field collecting is recognized in the scientific names of several regional species, including: Holst's frog (Babina holsti) and Holst's spider (Macrothele holsti).