James Halliday McDunnough
Encyclopedia
James Halliday McDunnough (10 May 1877, Toronto
- 23 February, 1962, Halifax, Nova Scotia) was a Canadian
entomologist
best known for his work with North American
Lepidoptera
, but who also made important contributions about North American Ephemeroptera
.
He didn't start out to be an entomologist, but went to Berlin
to be trained as a classical musician
, studying under the great violinist
Joseph Joachim
. After a season as a violinist in a symphony orchestra
in Glasgow, Scotland
(presumably what is now the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
), he decided to change careers. In 1904 he went back to study in Berlin, receiving his doctorate
in Zoology
in 1909.
Returning to North America, he worked briefly at the Marine Biological Laboratory
in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
and married Margaret Bertels, from Berlin. He soon learned of an important opportunity: a wealthy surgeon
in Decatur, Illinois
named William Barnes needed an entomologist to serve as curator
and researcher for his private collection
of North American lepidoptera- probably the best in existence at the time.
From 1910 to 1919 McDunnough produced, with Barnes credited as co-author, an impressive volume of research on the taxonomy
of North American lepidoptera, including the first 4 volumes of the privately-published Contributions to the Natural History of the Lepidoptera of North America, the 1917 Check list of the Lepidoptera of Boreal America, Illustrations of the North American Species of the Genus Catocala, and numerous journal articles- 67 papers, in all. He also published 9 articles solely under his own name during this period.
Although Barnes was interested and involved in the work of his curators, he apparently did little or no actual research, but was given co-author credit as a courtesy that was due to one whose generosity in both money and access to his collections made the research of his curators possible.
In 1918, McDunnough spent a summer helping with the Canada National Collection of Insects (now the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes) by arranging the microlepidoptera
part of the collection. This led to his leaving the job with Barnes in 1919 and heading the newly-created Division of Systematic Entomology within the Entomological Branch of the Canadian Department of Agriculture
. He remained there until 1946.
During those 28 years, he oversaw the development of the Canadian National Collection into a world-class repository of insect and other arthropod specimens along with an extensive library of entomological publications, did faunal
surveys throughout Canada, and published 199 taxonomic papers.
Over the same period, he also was editor for the Entomological Society of Canada
's journal, The Canadian Entomologist, from 1921 to 1938
After retirement, he was appointed a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History
, working there from late 1946 to 1950.
In 1950, after the death of his wife, he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he became a research associate for the Nova Scotia Museum of Science
, while still publishing papers through the AMNH. His last paper was published the year of his death at the age of 84.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
- 23 February, 1962, Halifax, Nova Scotia) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
best known for his work with North American
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
, but who also made important contributions about North American Ephemeroptera
Mayfly
Mayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera . They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies...
.
He didn't start out to be an entomologist, but went to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to be trained as a classical musician
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, studying under the great violinist
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
. After a season as a violinist in a symphony orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
in Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(presumably what is now the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
), he decided to change careers. In 1904 he went back to study in Berlin, receiving his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
in 1909.
Returning to North America, he worked briefly at the Marine Biological Laboratory
Marine Biological Laboratory
The Marine Biological Laboratory is an international center for research and education in biology, biomedicine and ecology. Founded in 1888, the MBL is the oldest independent marine laboratory in the Americas, taking advantage of a coastal setting in the Cape Cod village of Woods Hole, Massachusetts...
in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands...
and married Margaret Bertels, from Berlin. He soon learned of an important opportunity: a wealthy surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
in Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
named William Barnes needed an entomologist to serve as curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
and researcher for his private collection
Insect collecting
Insect collecting is the collection of insects for hobby, scientific study or profit. Historically insect collecting has been widespread and a very popular educational hobby. Insect collecting has left traces in European cultural history, literature and songs Insect collecting is the collection of...
of North American lepidoptera- probably the best in existence at the time.
From 1910 to 1919 McDunnough produced, with Barnes credited as co-author, an impressive volume of research on the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of North American lepidoptera, including the first 4 volumes of the privately-published Contributions to the Natural History of the Lepidoptera of North America, the 1917 Check list of the Lepidoptera of Boreal America, Illustrations of the North American Species of the Genus Catocala, and numerous journal articles- 67 papers, in all. He also published 9 articles solely under his own name during this period.
Although Barnes was interested and involved in the work of his curators, he apparently did little or no actual research, but was given co-author credit as a courtesy that was due to one whose generosity in both money and access to his collections made the research of his curators possible.
In 1918, McDunnough spent a summer helping with the Canada National Collection of Insects (now the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes) by arranging the microlepidoptera
Microlepidoptera
Microlepidoptera is an artificial grouping of moth families, commonly known as the 'smaller moths' . These generally have a wingspan of under 20 mm, and are thus harder to identify by external phenotypic markings than macrolepidoptera...
part of the collection. This led to his leaving the job with Barnes in 1919 and heading the newly-created Division of Systematic Entomology within the Entomological Branch of the Canadian Department of Agriculture
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals...
. He remained there until 1946.
During those 28 years, he oversaw the development of the Canadian National Collection into a world-class repository of insect and other arthropod specimens along with an extensive library of entomological publications, did faunal
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
surveys throughout Canada, and published 199 taxonomic papers.
Over the same period, he also was editor for the Entomological Society of Canada
Entomological Society of Canada
The Entomological Society of Canada or Société d’Entomologie du Canada is one of Canada's most historical scientific societies. The society was founded in Toronto on April 16, 1863. The first Council was composed of President Henry Holmes Croft , Secretary Treasurer William Wilson Saunders , and...
's journal, The Canadian Entomologist, from 1921 to 1938
After retirement, he was appointed a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, working there from late 1946 to 1950.
In 1950, after the death of his wife, he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he became a research associate for the Nova Scotia Museum of Science
Nova Scotia Museum
Nova Scotia Museum is the corporate name for the most decentralized museum in Canada - 27 museums across Nova Scotia, including over 200 historic buildings, living history sites, vessels, specialized museums and close to a million artifacts and specimens...
, while still publishing papers through the AMNH. His last paper was published the year of his death at the age of 84.