Historic Specimens
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 6809
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
- Contact:
Historic Specimens
The UKB team, along with some members, has agreed to include a new album: "Historic Specimens" (see gallery/album.php?album_id=2135). While UKB doesn't condone collecting, we felt that images of significant specimens and collections would add a valid (and new) dimension to the website.
As ever, comments welcome.
Cheers,
- Pete
As ever, comments welcome.
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
Re: Historic Specimens
raised eyebrows... really?..... REALLY?
I can only think of one worthwhile specimen... the Aphrodite/ GSF... why on earth would dead things be of interest?.... and what message does it send??.....
nowadays I cringe when I come across a (mainly European) website which depicts dead things... should I have captured that lugenda so it would have become a "historic specimen"... should I paint that Brimstone...
reminds me of when Yorkshire BC AGM decided they would support a proposed re-introduction ... which blew all their previous long and often drearily pontificated views out the water. ( or was I missing something).
I remain ever more confused. honest.
Beerily yours PK
I can only think of one worthwhile specimen... the Aphrodite/ GSF... why on earth would dead things be of interest?.... and what message does it send??.....
nowadays I cringe when I come across a (mainly European) website which depicts dead things... should I have captured that lugenda so it would have become a "historic specimen"... should I paint that Brimstone...
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
reminds me of when Yorkshire BC AGM decided they would support a proposed re-introduction ... which blew all their previous long and often drearily pontificated views out the water. ( or was I missing something).
I remain ever more confused. honest.
Beerily yours PK
My own webpages.... http://ptkbutterflies.wix.com/photo-art
- Padfield
- Administrator
- Posts: 8216
- Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:19 pm
- Location: Leysin, Switzerland
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
I think the key word here is 'historic'.
These butterflies, many of which I have known since my youth through various books (including E.B. Ford's Butterflies, for example), are part of the history of British butterfly study. Each has a story to tell - usually a story about people, rather than butterflies, admittedly - and I think it would be a shame just to throw these dead insects away.
There is no intention to condone (or condemn) entomological collecting - these are not for identification purposes or to illustrate the butterflies themselves but to illustrate the history of butterfly study.
Your objection is noted, though - there is no intention to offend.
Guy
These butterflies, many of which I have known since my youth through various books (including E.B. Ford's Butterflies, for example), are part of the history of British butterfly study. Each has a story to tell - usually a story about people, rather than butterflies, admittedly - and I think it would be a shame just to throw these dead insects away.
There is no intention to condone (or condemn) entomological collecting - these are not for identification purposes or to illustrate the butterflies themselves but to illustrate the history of butterfly study.
Your objection is noted, though - there is no intention to offend.
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
Re: Historic Specimens
Regardless of how we treat the issue today, we have to accept that entomologists routinely collected specimens generations ago. Perhaps if they'd had the luxury of digital photography then they wouldn't have needed to.
In some respects it's a good thing that they did, as had they not done so we would not have actual specimens of long extinct species, such as the British Large Copper.
This is surely of interest to any modern day butterfly enthusiast.
In some respects it's a good thing that they did, as had they not done so we would not have actual specimens of long extinct species, such as the British Large Copper.
This is surely of interest to any modern day butterfly enthusiast.
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 6809
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
And the reason it's historic is because it is the actual specimen that led to it being added to the British list. But the same can be said of many other species too. I'd also personally be quite interested in seeing the type specimens for some of our species, as well as examples of extinct species and races. There are no photos of the living creature (for the most part), only dead specimens. And I consider these things part of our heritage. I also think it's important to remember that the specimens we're talking about here were collected in a different era, when collecting was the norm.Reverdin wrote:I can only think of one worthwhile specimen... the Aphrodite/ GSF... why on earth would dead things be of interest?.... and what message does it send??.....
What I can't abide is modern-day specimens - there's absolutely no need to collect in this day and age, other than for genuine research purposes.
That wouldn't be "historic" in my book.Reverdin wrote:should I have captured that lugenda so it would have become a "historic specimen"
No. We already have one of thoseReverdin wrote:... should I paint that Brimstone...
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
- Rogerdodge
- Posts: 1177
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:06 pm
- Location: North Devon
Re: Historic Specimens
Whilst I consider collecting butterflies pretty abhorrent, it must be remembered that, when these historic collections were assembled it was not only a legal, but a laudable activity.
These collections do serve a seriously useful purpose, and scientific collection does, and should, continue.
I personally access the Cockayne database fairly regularly.
A respected member of these fora is prsently studying tray after tray of European Pyrgus species trying to produce an identification key, for example.
It would be churlish I think, to ignore the existence of these collections just because we have different ethical values from the Victorians..
As long as it is clearly stated that UKB does not condone collecting (and no one can argue that this isn't the case) then I don't see a problem with it.
I watched an old episode of the Sweeney the other night. It contained sexist and racist references that would not be acceptable in a modern program. However it remains a compelling and brilliantly produced TV series, and a window to a different age, that we should still be able to watch.
These collections do serve a seriously useful purpose, and scientific collection does, and should, continue.
I personally access the Cockayne database fairly regularly.
A respected member of these fora is prsently studying tray after tray of European Pyrgus species trying to produce an identification key, for example.
It would be churlish I think, to ignore the existence of these collections just because we have different ethical values from the Victorians..
As long as it is clearly stated that UKB does not condone collecting (and no one can argue that this isn't the case) then I don't see a problem with it.
I watched an old episode of the Sweeney the other night. It contained sexist and racist references that would not be acceptable in a modern program. However it remains a compelling and brilliantly produced TV series, and a window to a different age, that we should still be able to watch.
Cheers
Roger
Roger
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 6809
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
BTW - once we have a better view of examples of historic specimens, any images may be moved to the appropriate species-specific album, and considered for inclusion on the main species pages. I've just added a couple of Large Copper ssp. dispar shots to seed things.
Of course, we'll make it quite clear that collecting is not condoned if these images do end up there!
Cheers,
- Pete
Of course, we'll make it quite clear that collecting is not condoned if these images do end up there!
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
- Padfield
- Administrator
- Posts: 8216
- Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:19 pm
- Location: Leysin, Switzerland
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
My feeling is that they shouldn't end up on the species pages. The reason for this is that some people (like Reverdin) may actively not want to look at pinned specimens - it may diminish their experience of the site if these are 'thrust under their noses' every time they want to look at pictures of a particular species. If historic specimens are kept in a separate, but easily accessible, place, then the viewing of dead butterflies becomes optional rather than obligatory.
Guy
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
Re: Historic Specimens
I'm struggling a bit trying to understand the aim of this proposal.
There is already a history article on this website. Anyone seriously interested in the subject will have the relevant books (or facsimiles) and will seek out collections to visit. A survey of distributions and populations over the decades would probably be informative and would help to show why we need to be concerned for the future. This would set the subject in context much better than a gallery of pictures.
Until very recently, most moth books used set specimens for illustration, until Richard Lewington broke the mould with paintings in life-like poses, but butterflies are much more amenable to photography which is now, judging by this site, a major focus of interest.
Most (all?) 'historic' species in the UK are still to be found elsewhere so, if we want to know what has been lost, photographs are available and are probably more 'accessible' to most people, in terms of understanding what they really look like.
So, I come back: exactly why do we want to do this?
Mike
There is already a history article on this website. Anyone seriously interested in the subject will have the relevant books (or facsimiles) and will seek out collections to visit. A survey of distributions and populations over the decades would probably be informative and would help to show why we need to be concerned for the future. This would set the subject in context much better than a gallery of pictures.
Until very recently, most moth books used set specimens for illustration, until Richard Lewington broke the mould with paintings in life-like poses, but butterflies are much more amenable to photography which is now, judging by this site, a major focus of interest.
Most (all?) 'historic' species in the UK are still to be found elsewhere so, if we want to know what has been lost, photographs are available and are probably more 'accessible' to most people, in terms of understanding what they really look like.
So, I come back: exactly why do we want to do this?
Mike
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 6809
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
One of the objectives of this website is to provide information - and information regarding some of the history of British butterflies is best-illustrated through the use of set specimens. Simple as that really.MikeOxon wrote:Anyone seriously interested in the subject will have the relevant books (or facsimiles) and will seek out collections to visit.
The objective isn't to "show why we need to be concerned for the future", although anyone taking an interest would hopefully infer that we need to look after the precious fauna we have.MikeOxon wrote:A survey of distributions and populations over the decades would probably be informative and would help to show why we need to be concerned for the future. This would set the subject in context much better than a gallery of pictures.
True - but it's unfortunate that we can't go out and take a picture of a British Large Copper (for example) to post on UKB.MikeOxon wrote:Until very recently, most moth books used set specimens for illustration, until Richard Lewington broke the mould with paintings in life-like poses, but butterflies are much more amenable to photography which is now, judging by this site, a major focus of interest.
Sorry Mike - but I disagree. I understand what you're saying, but I can't find the dispar subspecies of Large Copper anywhere (it is extinct), for example.MikeOxon wrote:Most (all?) 'historic' species in the UK are still to be found elsewhere
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
Re: Historic Specimens
ok.... thinking further, and less disinhibited this am...
...
what I would feel useful would maybe be a series of named chalkhill blue abberations, yes there's Cockayne, but I suspect UKB could do it better... I suppose there would be other such examples of highly variable species... what I would prefer (wishlist) would be the same in photographic form.
The whole idea just seemed so out of character for the site
Maybe if those dispar had been allowed to fulfill their raison d'etre we would still be able to see them ?( no - only joking, they were gonners anyway thanks to our landscape handling prowess.)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
what I would feel useful would maybe be a series of named chalkhill blue abberations, yes there's Cockayne, but I suspect UKB could do it better... I suppose there would be other such examples of highly variable species... what I would prefer (wishlist) would be the same in photographic form.
The whole idea just seemed so out of character for the site
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Maybe if those dispar had been allowed to fulfill their raison d'etre we would still be able to see them ?( no - only joking, they were gonners anyway thanks to our landscape handling prowess.)
My own webpages.... http://ptkbutterflies.wix.com/photo-art
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 6809
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
That's a tricky road Paul - since it takes us even closer into "well, you could have taken a photo instead" territory. Specifically, if a trawl of museums and private collections were conducted, then I think we could better the Cockayne website. But I'm not sure that would be palatable ![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Cheers,
- Pete
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
Try this then.
Jack
Photographed just a few days ago. Note price £2.50Jack
Re: Historic Specimens
A large copper should surely be priced at 2p?
Re: Historic Specimens
Thank you, Pete, for your reply to my previous post. I asked exactly why we want to do this and now have some answers. May I push a little further?
I'm not against the idea, I'm genuinely trying to tease out what it is for and, having determined that, how the aim can be achieved most effectively.
Mike
Answer 1: to provide information. Can illustrations of set specimens do this on their own? Surely, we need the context, at least to explain why these are 'historic specimens'. A gallery alone can't do this in my opinion. I looked at the two photos you have posted already. One won't enlarge properly for display on my computer and the other doesn't seem to contain information about date and place, which would make it useful. What information have I gleaned from seeing these illustrations?Pete Eeles wrote:One of the objectives of this website is to provide information - and information regarding some of the history of British butterflies is best-illustrated through the use of set specimens. Simple as that really.
Answer 2: to show extinct sub-species peculiar to UK. This answer seems to define the aim fairly closely. It would be helpful for the experts to draw up a list of what is needed for this task. The collection of 'historic images' could then be targeted to meet this objective. This seems a very good educational aim and would be even more informative if the differences from existing sub-species could be pointed out. How did the extinct English Chequered Skippers differ from those currently in Scotland?, for example.Pete Eeles wrote: I can't find the dispar subspecies of Large Copper anywhere (it is extinct), for example.
I'm not against the idea, I'm genuinely trying to tease out what it is for and, having determined that, how the aim can be achieved most effectively.
Mike
- Rogerdodge
- Posts: 1177
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:06 pm
- Location: North Devon
- Pete Eeles
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 6809
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:10 pm
- Location: Thatcham, Berkshire
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
Of course notMikeOxon wrote:Can illustrations of set specimens do this on their own?
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
To be honest, I think we're all, pretty much, on the same page and I'm reading more agreement than disagreement.
Yes - a list of criteria to qualify a specimen as "historic" would be no bad thing.
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: Historic Specimens
The specimen I saw was in a private collection. This is all above board but the owner of the collection might not want his details published.
Suffice it to say: In Southern England where there are two good pubs in the village, "The Bell" (very expensive!) and the "Crown & Anchor" (cheaper but you have to do what you are told by the landlady - no dithering over orders!)
Now do your detective work!
Jack
Suffice it to say: In Southern England where there are two good pubs in the village, "The Bell" (very expensive!) and the "Crown & Anchor" (cheaper but you have to do what you are told by the landlady - no dithering over orders!)
Now do your detective work!
Jack
- Pawpawsaurus
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:48 pm
- Location: Hertfordshire
Re: Historic Specimens
I would agree, but Susie won't know what that means. Don't forget that she turned 21 only a few days ago ...Rogerdodge wrote:Susie
1d surely?
Paul
Re: Historic Specimens
I can't believe some of you lot seem to be so squemish.
I wouldn't chose to pin specimens purely for the pleasure of looking at them but if the only way they can be properly studied is to take the odd one then so be it. Surely then if these butterflies have been sacrified, historically or recently, it makes sense to share their images with as many people as possible and this site is an ideal place to do it? There must be limitations to the value of photos taken in the field, surely?
Personally one of the reasons I don't run a moth trap any more is that a number of moths will probably die or lay eggs which won't thrive and so it is an unkindness to do so purely for my personal pleasure (and I am generally too lazy to identify the trickier moths and so any recording I do is pretty useless). If, however, there was point to what I was doing other than my personal pleasure then I would consider the death of a few moths justified.
And I don't remember old money but I still know my pounds, shillings and pence.![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
I wouldn't chose to pin specimens purely for the pleasure of looking at them but if the only way they can be properly studied is to take the odd one then so be it. Surely then if these butterflies have been sacrified, historically or recently, it makes sense to share their images with as many people as possible and this site is an ideal place to do it? There must be limitations to the value of photos taken in the field, surely?
Personally one of the reasons I don't run a moth trap any more is that a number of moths will probably die or lay eggs which won't thrive and so it is an unkindness to do so purely for my personal pleasure (and I am generally too lazy to identify the trickier moths and so any recording I do is pretty useless). If, however, there was point to what I was doing other than my personal pleasure then I would consider the death of a few moths justified.
And I don't remember old money but I still know my pounds, shillings and pence.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)