Ornithology, Evolution, and Philosophy 123

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Zoological Nomenclature 333 of giving names to objects is to facilitate communication. Every time a name is changed,alltheinformationthatpreviouslyhadbeengatheredunderthisname will be lost or at least become very difficult to retrieve. Hence a change of name is a violation of easy communication. Stability of names can be achieved either through a strict priority approach (that is the oldest name ever given to a taxon should be the only one valid) or by means of conservation of well-known names (even if older, but overlooked ones, senior synonyms, are found in the literature). During the early 20th century, the defenders of the strict “Law” of Priority assured that there were undoubtedly only a limited number of such forgotten names, that all such names would be found soon and given their rightful position to achieve a stable nomenclature. Alas, the period of name changing never ended. In particular the names of popular groups of animals, like birds, mammals, butterflies and others, were used in literally hundreds of publications each year and every change, when a “name digger” had found a senior synonym of a taxon, caused chaos in the literature (see Mayr et al. 1953(a): 212–235 and Bock 1994b on the Principle of Priority). Finally, zoologists of various countries protested in print against certain rules of nomenclature, especially the “Law of Priority” and demanded relief. In March 1950, K. P. Schmidt of the Field Museum in Chicago published a protest in Science asking for the production of a sensible code of nomenclature at the forthcoming International Congress of Zoology at Copenhagen (1953) emphasizing, in particular, “the desirability of conserving familiar names and avoiding confusing changes,” even if this impinged on the rights of authors whose names were not used. The needs of all zoologists for maximum ease of communication were deemed more important. Schmidt was immediately supported by many American zoologists including the ichthyologist Carl L. Hubbs and Ernst Mayr who, at that time, explored the foundations of nomenclature for his textbook, Methods and Principles of Systematic Zoology (Mayr, Linsley and Usinger 1953a). He also wrote a specialized document on “The status of ‘nomina nuda’ listed in synonymy” and sent it to the International Commission in August 1950. It was published in German translation in 1951(h), in English in 1953. When Mayr visited Europe during the summer of 1951, he discussed the problems of nomenclature with Dr. Henning Lemche of the Zoological Museum at Copenhagen in preparation of the 1953 Zoological Congress. On February 13, 1952, Mayr sent him a detailed memorandum on various points that ought to be discussed at the Congress (copy in the Stresemann Papers, Nomenklatur 2, Signatur IV, Bestand Zool. Museum, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin): “1. It seems to me that the international rules should have a preamble in which it is stated clearly that it is the function of the rules to safeguard a stable nomenclature. This preamble should also state that it should be the function of the Commission to use its plenary powers whenever the application of the rules seems to be in conflict with this basic principle.” “2. There seems no reason whatsoever to change the family name every time the name of the type genus is changed; 3. The present Article 25 is rather chaotic. […] I would suggest that this article be divided into two of which the first be entitled ‘The Rule of Availability’ and the second ‘The Rule of Priority;’” 4. For no reason whatsoever the Zoological Congress in Paris
334 10 Systematics and Classification (1948) introduced “absolute line and page priority. This retroactive change has catastrophic effects on the stability of nomenclature and ought to be rejected categorically; 5. An equally detrimental change was adopted [in Paris] with respect to the definition of secondary homonyms. […] 7. I feel very strongly that the Commission should adopt a ruling or a definite article in the rules which would state clearly that every name that has been in general usage for more than 30 years becomes automatically a nomen conservandum. Such a name cannot be changed without approval of the International Commission,” etc. These suggestions influenced the applications of several German Zoological and Paleontological Societies to the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature as published in Senckenbergiana (vol. 33: 193–196, 1952) as well as the program of a Colloquium on Zoological Nomenclature held in Copenhagen (29 July–4 August 1953) just prior to the Congress (Fig. 10.2). At this meeting, Mayr quickly took over the leadership of the American group and made most of the crucial proposals. He was particularly proud of the introduction of the Preamble (quoted above). Subsequently, including future congresses, this Preamble which stated the principle of stability, was often decisive in the articulation of new paragraphs in the Rules. Mayr was not a member of the International Commission at Fig.10.2. Ernst Mayr as a member of the Colloquium on Zoological Nomenclature, International Zoological Congress, Copenhagen (August 1953). Front row (from right to left) H.Stammer,E.Hering,E.Mayr,R.Meinertzhagen,J.R.Dymond,R.L.Usinger,H.Boschma. Second row (from right to left) C.L.Hubbs,W.J.Follett,G.W.Sinclair,Mrs.K.Palmer, C.W. Sabrosky, L.B. Holthuis, L.D. Brongersma. (Archive, Museum of Natural History Berlin, Orn. 219)
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Jürgen Haffer Ornithology, Evoluti
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Preface Ernst Mayr (1904-2005), emi
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Contents Introduction 1 Part I The
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Contents IX 2 Bibliography of Ernst
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2 Introduction and speciation, the
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4 Introduction (1928-1929) to repla
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Ernst Mayr has been an observer all
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The Family 9 court system. He had a
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The Family 11 Fig.1.1. Family genea
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The Family 13 where they learned La
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Birdwatching 15 even finishing befo
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Birdwatching 17 Fig.1.5. ErnstMayr
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Birdwatching 19 Fig.1.6. Ernst Mayr
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Birdwatching 21 he simply smoked ci
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University Student in Greifswald an
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Friendships at School and Universit
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2 The Budding Scientist PhD Thesis
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TheInfluenceofTeachers 37 excellent
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Erwin Stresemann—Teacher and Frie
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Erwin Stresemann—Teacher and Frie
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Assistant Curator at the Museum of
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Expeditions to New Guinea and the S
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Part II Ornithologist and Evolution
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96 3 The New York Years (1931-1953)
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98 3 The New York Years (1931-1953)
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100 3 The New York Years (1931-1953
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4 Ornithologist and Zoogeographer B
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142 4 Ornithologist and Zoogeograph
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184 5 Biological Species and Specia
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6 Life in North America during Worl
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244 6 Life in North America during
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Part III Professor of Zoology at Ha
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256 7 The Harvard Years (1953-2005)
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8 Evolutionary Biology— Mayr’s
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268 8 Evolutionary Biology—Mayr
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Page 287 and 288: 282 8 Evolutionary Biology—Mayr
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Page 381 and 382: 376 12 Summary: Appreciation of Ern
Page 387 and 388: Acknowledgments Iamdeeplygratefulto
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List of Abbreviations AAAS American
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386 References Beehler BM, Pratt TK
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388 References Cracraft J (2002) Go
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390 References Haffer J (1997a) Ess
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392 References Keast JA (1996) Avia
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394 References Olson SL (1975) The
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396 References Smith JJ (1936) Eric
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398 References Wiglesworth LW (1898
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Appendix 1 Curriculum Vitae (includ
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Appendix 1 403 1978 Prêmio Jabuti,
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Appendix 1 405 Society Offices Linn
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Appendix 2 407 1926c Das Freibrüte
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Appendix 2 409 1932 1932a Birds col
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Appendix 2 411 1936g Melidectes bel
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Appendix 2 413 1941e Birds collecte
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Appendix 2 415 1944f Chromosomes an
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Appendix 2 417 1947g On the correct
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Appendix 2 419 1952e Six new subspe
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Appendix 2 421 1954g The tail molt
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Appendix 2 423 1958c Concluding rem
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Appendix 2 425 in E. Mayr, Evolutio
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Appendix 2 427 1964l Introduction [
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Appendix 2 429 1967d Subfamily Pach
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Appendix 2 431 in Acta Soc. Zool. B
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Appendix 2 433 1974b The diversity
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Appendix 2 435 1976m Evolution and
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Appendix 2 437 Mankind 13:430; P.W.
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Appendix 2 439 (1984) in Queen’s
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Appendix 2 441 1984c Evolution and
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Appendix 2 443 1987b The status of
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Appendix 2 445 1990 1990a The Myth
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Appendix 2 447 1992f Haldane’s Ca
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Appendix 2 449 1995g The search for
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Appendix 2 451 1999 1999a Thoughts
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List of Books by Ernst Mayr 453 200
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Coauthorship 455 Coauthorship In th
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Appendix 3 457 (4) Systematics 1942
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Index Achievements 379 Adaptation 2
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Index 461 Faunas 164-165 Family 8-1
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Index 463 Realism and education 372
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