[obol] Larophilia

[Norgren Family]

      The recent series of postings on gulls
reminds me of how times change, often for the
better. My friend Julio once told me a story
illustrative of how these ID questions were
handled in the good old days.
    An Iceland Gull was sighted at Battery
Park one winter in the early 70s. This is
the southern tip of Manhattan, where the
Staten Island Ferry departs. It was put on
the RBA and within a few days two Wall Street
bankers walked down there on their lunch break
to see it. By chance, the monthly meeting
of the Linnean Society was that night. The same
two gentlemen attended, and in the Field Notes
section preceding the evening's program they
stood up and reported their good luck at lunchtime.
      At this point a professional ornithologist
who shall remain nameless(his son is the author of
a very successful field guide to identification of
North American Birds)stood up and said,"For those
gentlemen's information, that Iceland Gull lacked
one very important characteristic- EXISTENCE. If
they care to see the real bird, come down to my
office tomorrow, where I've had it in the freezer
since noon of yesterday." He had dispatched his
taxidermist to the Battery as soon as he heard the
RBA to collect it.
      At the conclusion of the meeting, Julio confronted
the ornithologist(let's call him "Jules" for convenience).
"Jules, how could you do such a thing? You just humiliated
two dignified middle-aged men in front of a large audience!"
      Jules replied " They were STUPID birders! I HATE stupid
birders." In the nineteenth century when the Linnean Society
and its kin were in their heyday, I believe these meetings
involved dinner and copious consumption of alcohol. It's
understandable if vituperation was a part of the landscape.
Now that the study of natural history is a more egalitarian
pastime we need not wax nostalgic. All of the gulls discussed
on Obol are alive and well, and nobody's feelings have been
hurt. Except for the Larophobes I suppose.  Lars Norgren