Myth and Speculation

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

Over the winter I quoted the famous lepidopterist Holland on the topic of
Holarcticus mythica.  I like quotes from the past so I want to share another
one that Charley Bird kindly brought to my attention. This one is from the
pioneer Alberta lepidopterist, F. H. Wolley Dod.  Here is what Fred had to
say on the topic of moth and butterfly taxonomy in the 1911 volume of
Canadian Entomologist: "Too much is taken for granted. Too much is stated as
fact that is really pure speculation, without evidence being brought forward
in support of the hypothesis." There is no doubt that we have learned a lot
over the past 90 years but there is also no doubt in my mind that Fred's
comments still hold true to a remarkable degree, even today. Dare I risk a
stinging rebuke from those "who know better" and utter the heresy that
butterfly taxonomy in northwestern North America is nothing more than a
working hypothesis ?? PS: when I mentioned this radical notion to an
open-minded friend he quickly responded by saying that it is not working
very well :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Norbert Kondla  P.Biol., RPBio.
Forest Ecosystem Specialist, Ministry of Environment
845 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia V1N 1H3
Phone 250-365-8610
Mailto:Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca       
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca


 
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