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Original message:
From: "Wehtje, Walter G."
<wehtjew at MISSOURI.EDU>
Subject: [AVECOL-L] When is a specimen not worth keeping?
I'm organizing a bird and mammal collection and am coming across
specimens in very poor shape. Many birds have one or more of the following:
loose heads, loose tails, loose legs, and broken bills. Mammals have loose
legs, broken ears and loose tails. The majority of the severely damaged
specimens are fairly common species, 60-70 years old, and from the Midwest.
Should save them or throw them away? Apart from the voucher value, is there any
other use for them? As an example, a Red-shouldered Hawk from central Missouri
collected in 1933 has a loose tail, both wings close to separating from the
body, and a loose leg; it's also very greasy. In time it'd take to repair
it, I could probably prepare a fresh specimen. I'd appreciate any insight anyone
may have.
Responses:
1. From: Kevin Winker
Subject: Re: [AVECOL-L] When is a specimen not worth keeping?
"Walter, have a look at my paper in BioScience 2004 (citation below)
emphasizing the importance of retrospective studies. Historic specimens are
very valuable. While you can prepare a fresh one that would be structurally
superior, it would not be from the historic period of the specimen being
replaced. If this is a teaching collection, then replacement is warranted, but
the older, damaged material should not be discarded. Instead, it should be sent
to a research collection willing to hang onto it."
2. From: Paul Sweet <sweet at
AMNH.ORG>
Subject: Re: [AVECOL-L] When is a specimen not worth keeping?
"If these specimens are well documented (date, locality) then they
are certainly worth keeping. We routinely receive requests for toe pad samples
for molecular studies and feathers for stable isotope and contaminant work.
Although they may not be pretty these specimens are very valuable and cannot be
replaced with new ones."