Herr Bunge's Siberian Jay ssp. (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

While reading about Alexander von Middendorff (1815–1894) I came across a guy that I might think was/is (at least he could be?) commemorated in the Scientific name ...

bungei as in:
• in the invalid Siberian Jay ssp. "Perisoreus infaustus bungei" SUS(C)HKIN & B. STEGMANN (alt.Stegman/Shtegman) 1929 (note; OD, in JfO 77 (3): pp.398-399, unseen by me! Reference here, alt. here)

In today's Key explained as:

bungei
Dr Alexander Georg von Bunge (1803-1890) Baltic German botanist, explorer in Siberia, and Mongolia (syn. Perisoreus infaustus yakutensis).

But ... how sure are we about this claim?

Of course, without haven't read the OD it's impossible (for me) to tell either way, but here's mere suspicion, or a speculation (read; guess), and a question, regarding the dedicatee himself.

As the Type was collected by the Lena (River), on the 14th of August of 1926 (according to the Richmond Cards here, and here), I would assume that this eponym might (or could) just as well be aimed at the Son of the guy above, i.e. Alexander von Bunge [Jr. ], (1851–1930), who had participated in an expedition to the Lena delta (in 1882–1884)*, later leader of an expedition to Novosibirskiye Ostrova [New Siberian Islands], in 1886–1887 ... and onwards.

Or could't it ... ?!?

Compare with the entries in English, and German Wikipedia; here, resp. here. Or even the Swedish ditto here.

Also see Bunge's own Report; Bericht über fernere Fahrten in Lena-Delta und ..., here (all in German), pp.228–282 (and pp.342–345).

Another noteworthy fact/piece would/could be that Alexander von Bunge (Senior) had been dead for just about 40 years when the OD was published. A simple fact that might, or at least could, talk in favour of Junior.

Either way, take it for what it's worth (if anything at all), it's just an observation ... without having seen the OD it's pretty hard to tell, or know ...

Anyone who actually have seen the OD?

However, this far, until seen, I wouldn't dare to say either way.

Björn

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*Tammiksaar, E. & I. R. Stone. 2007. Alexander von Middendorff and his expedition to Siberia (1842–1845). Polar Record 43 (226): pp.193–216. (see page 209). Accessible for download on ResearchGate here.

 

[l_raty]

"Perisoreus infaustus bungei subsp. nova.
Dunkler und weniger grau als jakutensis und tkachenkoi. Die Kappe ist dunkel wie bei tkachenkoi, der Rücken zwischen Drap (pl. XLVI) und Mouse Gray (pl. LI), der Bürzel kaum rötlicher, als der Rücken. Die Unterseite ist auch dunkler und gelblicher. Das Rostrot an den Außenfahnen der Handschwingen ist weniger entwickelt. Nur die drei ersten Armdecken haben rostrote Außenfahnen, die vierte nur einen roströtlichen Augensaum. An den Steuerfedern ist ziemlich viel Grau, vom 2. bis zum äußeren Paar haben alle graue Endflecken, wenn auch nicht von großer Ausdehnung. Von manjerensis unterscheidet sich diese Form durch dunklere Färbung, mehr Rostrot an den Flügeln und mehr Grau am Schwanze.
Flügel 139-148 mm, Schwanz 134-138 mm, Fuß 35-37 mm, Schnabel 15,5-17 mm.
Nach 3 Exemplaren beschrieben.
Typus: ♀ 14.VIII.1926 Lena, unweit der Mündung (110 km unterhalb von Bulun), coll. Romanow. Befindet sich im Zool. Mus. Ac. Sci.U.S.S.R.
Verbreitung: Wahrscheinlich der nördlichste Teil des Waldgebietes zwischen der Lena und Kolyma. Exemplare stammen von der Alaseja und vom untersten Laufe der Lena, also aus Gegenden, die unweit der Grenze der Tundra gelegen sind."

(I do not guarantee that I corrected all the many OCR errors that occurred in this text.)
I did not find any Bunge cited elsewhere in this paper.
Two other new sspp with names in -i in the paper (rogosowi, tkachenkoi) were named after the collector of the type, but not this one ("coll. Romanow").

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Thanks Laurent, reliable as always! (.... even if we clearly will have to do without a dedication)

The only thing I can comment on is:

...
Typus: ♀ 14.VIII.1926 Lena, unweit der Mündung (110 km unterhalb von Bulun), coll. Romanow. Befindet sich im Zool. Mus. Ac. Sci.U.S.S.R.
...

Note, on top of the Lena (River), of course, that at least also "Bulun" was mentioned on p. 275, and on p.281, in the paper by Bunge Jr. (link above, in post #1). Not much, but something (maybe, maybe pointing in his direction). However, its just an observation, if relevant I cannot tell? In any case they ("Romanow" and Bunge Jr.) had been in the same Area, or its nearby surroundings, not that far away from each other, even if years (decades) apart.

Not sure why, or how, Bunge Senior would be involved.

Either way, thanks again!

/B

 

[Taphrospilus]

Or here as Alexander Alexandrovich von Bunge