was iroides/augustinus - now cutting edge

[Ron Gatrelle]

I am more and more of the opinion that many "professional" lepidopteron
workers like to make us think they are on the cutting edge of taxonomic
thinking. However, when those who really are come along,  those "pros"
quickly distance themselves under the cover of being "conservative" - lest
they lose their self imagined place at the cutting edge.

(Yes, this is a somewhat plagiarized quote from Book - which my son has
made me too familiar with as a current "assignment" of his as he has
finally gotten bored enough as a 30 year old single to go back to school
and get his masters - which degree his brilliant older sister obtained many
years ago from The Citadel. Want'a see my grand kids pictures too.... )
RG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris J. Durden" <drdn at mail.utexas.edu>
To: <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 2:54 PM
Subject: RE: iroides/augustinus


> Norbert,
>     And be prepared to later change your 'final' opinion after there have
> been later developments.
>     This is the real "Scientific Method" as described by Chamberlin,
about
> 1911 in Science Magazine and reprinted many times since under the heading
> of "Multiple Working Hypotheses". Basically consider all possibillities
> concurrently, favor the hypothesis that fits the full sum of latest
> observations but do not let it rule and be prepared to smoothly change to
> one of the other hypotheses when the first is shot down. Under this
regimen
> one is obligated to cultivate a whole warren of hare-brained ideas on the
> chance that one of them is right. Think of it as weasel wit. This is much
> more satisfying (to me) than to pick a favorite hare and beat it to death
> right or wrong, much as the human anthropologists and cancer researchers
do.
> ...........Chris Durden
>
>
> At 11:38 AM 3/23/2001 -0800, you wrote:
> >Thanks, I forgot to check that source which is one that I do have in my
> >library.  I try to be cautious before announcing a 'final' opinion but I
> >force myself to be incautious and consider all manner of even zany
options
> >before coming to an opinion, think some people call this lateral
thinking
> >:-)
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Chris J. Durden [mailto:drdn at mail.utexas.edu]
> >Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 11:39 AM
> >To: Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX
> >Subject: Re: iroides/augustinus
> >
> >
> >In Colorado Butterflies 1955 (1957), F. M. Brown gives characters for
> >*augustinus*, *iroides* and *annetteae* and says "the proper name for
the
> >Colorado population is somewhat in question*. He gives *Vaccinium* as
> >foodplant for *augustinus* and *Sedum*  as foodplant for *iroides*. From
> >his wording and from subsequent conversation with him I think he
seriously
> >entertained the possibility that *iroides* and *augustinus* are distinct
> >species. He was however rather conservative, and a careful writer.  I
have
> >not been so cautious myself.
> >...........Chris Durden
> >
> > >
>
>
>
>
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