Waterstradt's Racquet-tail (Parrot) (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

This is posted simply as I had a look at ...

waterstradti as in:
• the Mindanao Racquet-tail Prioniturus waterstradti ROTHSCHILD 1904 (here):

Named in honour of its discoverer, Mr. John Waterstradt.

In today's Key explained as:

waterstradti
Johannes Waterstradt (1869-?1944) Danish entomologist, botanist, collector in Ceylon, Malaysia, the East Indies and Philippines (subsp. Phylloscopus poliocephalus, subsp. Prinia superciliaris, Prioniturus, subsp. Pyrrhula nipalensis).

To which I might add that he seems to have been of German Heritage, and that he indeed (also) was known as 'John' Waterstradt (just like in the OD above).

In H. S. Barlow's Paper (from December 1969), titled "John Waterstradt 1869–1944" (*), we find the following text:

Johannes Waterstrandt, or John Waterstrandt, as he was usually known was born in 1869. His family was originally of Frisian extraction, although his father's branch of the family had only recently moved to Denmark from Mecklenburg [here], where they had lived for several generations.

Waterstrandt's father had planned that his son, John, should enter the family market gardening business on leaving school. After less than a year in the business, Waterstrandt left to enlist in the navy ...

In 1890 or early in 1890, Waterstrandt left the navy ... [... and onwards, all his travels]

[...]

On returning home in 1904, Waterstradt married Laura Fritzbger [sic!?], and took over a market gardening business owned by his Father. He developed this, specializing in the growing & sale of orchids, some of which he himself had collected in the East.

He returned twice to the Far East, once in 1908, when he visited Mount Kinabalu, & again in 1912. On the second occasion, he was obliged to return to Europe sooner than he had planned, due to a serious illness, which kept him in hospital in London for a considerable time. However he still maintained his connections with the East. But for the outbreak of the First World War, he would have returned to the East a third time in 1914 to assist in running a rubber estate out there.

Between the wars he developed his business in orchids, which for many years was the only one of its kind in Denmark. He died in 1944, without, to his sorrow, seeing the end of the war.

According to Wikipedia (here): Born 8 March 1869 ... died 1944 in Copenhagen.

However, I agree (or, at least understand) why there's a question mark in Key (regarding his Death year), as Wikipedia clearly refer to an alleged "[Obituary]" published in the Danish Journal Entomologiske Meddelelser [Entomological Announcements] 15, for 1936, though note that Barlow refer to the same Piece as:

Entomologiske Meddelelser 15 Bind [sic] pp. 362–363 (1936) Brief, if somewhat inaccurate account of John Waterstradt's life.

Without having seen it I doubt it's an actual Obituary, more of a life/career description, in honour of a guy who'd paid his dues, now slowing down.

Also see Annika A. Culver's recent Book Japan's Empire of Birds ... (2022, here), where he's referred to, even if only briefly, among others, as the "... Danish collector John (Johannes) Waterstradt (1869-1944) ..."

Also note that we, as well, find him in Dansk botanisk arkiv (Danish botanical archive), Vol. 21–22, from 1963, mentioned as: "John Waterstradt, danskeren som blev verdenskendt orkidé-ekspert" [... the Dane who became a World renown Expert on orchids] with the added (somewhat odd-looking) dates: "(8 , 3 1869–9 / 7 1944)". Note: this is how it is shown by Google Books (apparently on page 275), not seen in in full by me.

... which to me indicate that he did pass away in 1944 (and, as it seems; on the 9th of July 1944).

Though, as always, don't hesitate to prove me wrong.

In any case, take the above for what it's worth. I haven't checked him any deeper than what's told/shown in this thread (no official records seen/found, neither on his Birth, nor Death), simply as he hasn't got an entry of his own in my MS (i.e. he isn't commemorated in any Swedish Common/Vernacular name). I only have him, as; Johannes 'John' Waterstradt (1869–1944), just mentioned, in context, as the collector (of the Types) of the recently split Malayan Crested Argus Rheinardia (ocellata) nigrescens ROTHSCHILD 1902.

Either way; enjoy!

Björn

---

*Barlow, H. S. 1969. John Waterstradt 1869–1944. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 42 (2): pp.115–129. (here, needs login)

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

And, just for completeness sake ...

• the (Hill) Prinia ssp. Prinia superciliaris waterstradti HARTERT 1902 (here), as "Suya waterstradti":

Named after Mr. Waterstradt, who collected on Mount Tahan.

• the (Brown) Bullfinch ssp. Pyrrhula nipalensis waterstradti HARTERT 1902 (here), as "Pyrrhula waterstradti":

One pair in moult had been obtained on Mount Tahan ... by Mr. Waterstradt's hunters in October 1901.
Obs. Named in compliment to Mr. John Waterstradt, who made a successful ascent of the great Mount Tahan. His collection of birds is in Mr. Rothschild's museum at Tring.

• the (Island) Leaf-Warbler ssp. Phylloscopus poliocephalus waterstradti HARTERT 1903 (here), as "Cryptolopha everetti waterstradti":

Mr. John Waterstradt sent one skin from Obi Major, obtained ...

I'd say they were all aimed at the same Johannes 'John' Waterstradt (1869–1944).

/B

 

[PScofield]

Johannes Alexander Christian Waterstradt

Born 8 March 1869 Copenhagen
Married 14 Dec 1904
Spouse: Ida Laura Alma Fritzbøger

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Thanks Paul!

That explained the alleged (and odd-looking) name of his Wife's Maiden name!

I guess the Printer/Typesetter of Barlow's Paper just could find a Danish ø in his type cases.

Either way, in my MS I'll keep him as just Johannes 'John' Waterstradt (1869–1944), though, in my notes I will, of course, have the waterstradti dedicatee as: Johannes 'John' Alexander Christian Waterstradt (from what's told in the ODs I think that 'John' has an explanatory value, making it all a bit more obvious, alt. self-explaining).

Once again, thanks!

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

...
I guess the Printer/Typesetter of Barlow's Paper just could find a Danish ø in his type cases.
...

Ought to have been ... just couldn't find ... (of course)

Sight, at times one just hate the spellchecker, when the computer itself changes what one writes.

Either way, sorry about that (hopefully you all understood what I tried to say).

 

[James Jobling]

I sympathise, Björn. Using scientific names, bird names, Latin and Greek and foreign languages and place names every day I never use spellcheck. Happily, from my proof-reading days, I can usually spot spelling errors, so I just check texts carefully before committing them to print.

All serenity.

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Thanks James, neither do I (wouldn't dream of it while working with my own texts, for the very same reasons), but I don't know how to turn it off (here on BirdForum, that is).

Cheers

/B

PS. And by the way, I still think that an appropriate 'John' ought to be added to the Key entry for waterstradti (considering the dedications in the ODs themselves. It would make them, and the Key, a bit easier to connect).

Either way, it's just an/my opinion. It's your Key (and I appreciate it tremendously)!

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

One last post, in this particular topic (at least from me), however nothing new, nor anything contradictory, just some additional (and confirmatory) info ...

See the Danish text below, even if from/in a Non-Bird context, as the second part of it indeed is about "our guy" (all in line with what we've found earlier in this thread):

John Waterstradt's Orchidégartneri.
Grundl. i i866 [sic] i Valby af Ernst Waterstradt (f. 13. okt. 1837, d. 1917).
I 1876 flyttede gartneriet til Møllegade (hvor nu "De gamles By" er beliggende) , og i 1886 til den nuværende adresse.

[+ a Photo of "John Waterstradt"]​

John Waterstradt (f. 8. marts 1869, d. 1944), der var søn af grundlæggeren, overtog gartneriet i 1904. Da sidstnævnte havde overtaget gartneriet, specialiserede han sig i udelukkende at fremdrive orkidéer. Efter John Waterstradts død i 1944 videreføres gartneriet af enkefru Laura Waterstradt (f. 1876).
Den daglige ledelse forestås af datteren, Valeska Waterstradt (f. 1907).
Adresser Lyngbyvej 174, Kbhvn. Ø.
...

[from here]​

Meaning something like:

John Waterstradt's Orchid Nursery.
Established in 1866, in Valby by Ernst Waterstradt (born 13. okt. 1837, died 1917).
In 1876 the Nursery was moved to Møllegade [(Wind) Mill Street] (where today's "De gamles By" is located), and in 1886 to its present address [in 1950].

[ditto]​

John Waterstradt (born 8 March 1869, died 1944), who was the Son of the Founder, took over the Nursery in 1904. When the latter had taken over the Nursery he specialized exclusively on growing Orchids. After John Waterstradt's Death in 1944 the Nursery was assigned to his Widow Laura Waterstradt (born 1876).
The daily management is operated by the Daughter Valeska Waterstradt (born 1907).
Address: Lyngbyvej 174, Kbhvn. Ø. [København/Copenhagen. Øst/East]
...

I'd say he was known as "John" even back home, also in Denmark.

Well, that's it.

Herr Waterstradt ... over and out!

/B

​