Turdus merula agnetae H. Volsøe, 1949 (1 Viewer)

[Taphrospilus]

Turdus merula agnetae H. Volsøe, 1949 OD Volsøe, H (1949): New Blackbird from the Canary Islands, Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift, 43, pp. 81 - 84 (not seen but snippets here)

I therefore describe it as a new subspecies which in honour of my wife, who skinned all the birds collected during the expedition, I propose to call: Turdus merula agnetae, subsp . nov . Type : In the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen.....

The Eponym Dictionary of Birds claims

La Palma Blackbird Turdus merula agnetae H. Volsøe, 1949 NCR [JS Turdus merula cabrerae]
Mrs Agnete Volsøe née Nielsen (b.1902) was a librarian and wife of Dr Svend Helge Volsøe (1908–1968), a Danish ornithologist who classified many of the subspecies of Canary Island birds.

The Key to Scientific Names

Agnete Volsøe née Nielsen (b. 1902) wife of Danish ornithologist Dr Svend Helge Volsøe (syn. Turdus merula cabrerae).

This is in accordance with geni b. 10 December 1902 in København, Hovedstaden. No help here about her death. Maybe it will be solved here?

Sorry Björn no Agneta singing The winner takes it all.

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Surprisingly, according to a Document left by our late Friend Jan van der Brugge (1945–2021) the Danes themselves (i.e. Svend Rønnest, Jørgen Møller Hansen & Mogens Behnke-Pedersen, in MS) has this eponym explained as:

agnetae........................... : efter Agnes Jespersen (1876-1961) gift med Svend Helge Volsøe (1908-1968) dansk zoolog [Turdus agnetae 1.beskr.: Turdus merula agnetae]

agnetae........................... : after Agnes Jespersen (1876–1961) married to Svend Helge Volsøe (1908–1968) Danish zoologist [Turdus agnetae first described as/in OD as: Turdus merula agnetae]



If correct is unknown to me (but I doubt it). Thus, take it for what it's worth (full OD also unseen by me).

🚦However; note that the entry for her husband Helge Volsøe (1908–1968) (i.e. the Author/auctor himself), in Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (the Danish Biographical Dictionary), from 1979–1984 (latter link in Martin's post #1) tells us:

Familie
... Gift 21.7.1934 i Kbh. (b.v.) med bibliotekar Agnete Nielsen, født 10.6.1902 i Kbh., d. af professor, overdyrlæge Marius N. (1875-1958) og Agnes Jespersen (1876-1961).

Family​

... Married 21 July 1934 in Copenhagen ... with Librarian Agnete Nielsen, born 10 June 1902 in Copenhagen, Daughter of professor, Chief/Senior Veterinary/Veterinarian Marius Nielsen (1875–1958) and Agnes Jespersen (1876–1961).

To me, it looks like Rønnest et al. confused her with Helge Volsøe's Mother-in-law!

I'd look for Agnete's Death.

She clearly survived her husband (who died in 1968), as she took care of Helge Volsøe's "efterladenskaber" (Property left, here, p.131), and he was still alive after that, at least in 1970 (here).

Good luck finding her End.

Björn

PS. She's (less surprisingly) mentioned as "the late Agnete Volsøe" here (in 2001/2003) ...

PPS. A possible clue; her Father was/is also included in the same Leksikon/Dictionary, here

🧩

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

In the Obituary after her husband, Helge Volsøe (written by the great Danish Ornithologist Finn Salomonsen) we're clearly told:

Her i tidskriftet har han berettet om en ny Solsort fra De Kanariske Øer (1949), en højst bemærkelsevæedig fugl, som han selv opdagade og insamlede, og som han opkaldte efter sin hustru (Turdus merula agnetae). ...

Meaning (something like):

Here in this Journal [D.O.F.T / Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift = Journal of the Danish Ornithological Society] he's been telling us of a new Blackbird from the Canary Island, a highly remarkable bird, which he himself discovered and collected, and which he named after his wife (Turdus merula agnetae). ...

In the same Obituary we're also given the name of his wife (hustru), in the following phrase:

Han havde den glæde at kunne virke i nært samarbejde med sin hustru AGNETE, der også var knyttet till Zoologisk Museum, ...

He had the joy of being able to work in close collaboration with his wife AGNETE, as well connected to the Zoological Museum [in Copenhagen], ...

Also note the following, last part of the latter sentence, that might be of help finding out when and where Agnete's Life ended:

... og sine sidste år kunne han se sin søn PETER følge i sin faders fodspår og påbegynde det zoologiske studium.

... and (in) his last years he could see his Son PETER beginning the zoological study, following in his father's footsteps.

That is (of course), if it's possible to find (and connect her to) this Son; Peter Volsøe.


Either way, the given name of "our lady" clearly seems to have been Agnete (and not Agnes).

We're back on track ... (sorry if I lead anyone astray).

But, as always: Better safe than sorry!

Björn

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Looks like yet another great Danish ornithologist, Jon Fjeldså, might know who Mrs Volsøe was ... at least he seems to have used her help, in the late 70s/early 80's (see here or here).

Also see; here, here, here, here or here (again taking her well into the 1980's).

Well, that's about as far as I can reach in this topic/thread ...

Mrs Volsøe and agnetae, over and out! (on my part that is)

Good luck finding the last piece.

/B