[leps-talk] Re: A reply on common names

[Michael Gochfeld]

I seriously question the wisdom of calling P.c. arcticus a Monarch, even in
Alaska.

Lots of people in New Jersey refer to the Great Blue Heron as a Crane, and I
suspect that if it came to a vote, more people would recognize this as a Crane
than a Heron. But I don't think anyone seriously proposes changing its name on
that basis, any more than the Turkey Vulture gets called a Buzzard, even
though that is certainly a commonly used name among lay folk here.  If someone
tells me they've seen a buzzard or asks about the buzzards, I feel I can
communicate with them clearly enough without either correcting them or
changing my usage.

Mike Gochfeld

Ron Gatrelle wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Gochfeld" <gochfeld at EOHSI.RUTGERS.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 12:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [leps-talk] Re: A reply on common names
>
> > I agree with Ken that where several species share a distinguishing
> > feature, that feature is inappropriate as a common name, except perhaps
> > when it is mirrored in the scientific name.  I like having the common
> > name reflect the scientific name to some extent (i.e. Spotted for
> > maculata). I have also campaigned unsuccessfully for using the generic
> > name in the common name, believing that terms like Narcissus are not
> > harder to remember than Daffodil.
> >
> > Mike Gochfeld
> >
>
> Lepsters out west have been by far the most helpful on the SC-NABN names.
> Ken Davenport in particular for California.  I have contacted some authors
> (e.g. Austin, Guppy) about taxa they authored on what they think would be
> good common names for their new stuff.  I did not follow Guppy on one taxa
> (a guppyi) which he didn't want named (common) after him.  But I felt that
> was actually best - for now - until and unless another common name arises
> into common usage among the locals.
>
> Monarch for Pterourus canadensis arcticus in Alaska gets a lot of votes.
> The regional use of common names can not be ignored or legislated out of
> existence. That aspect will have to be dealt with eventually by all who
> want globalization of common names.
>
> Ron


 
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