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."