ERNST MAYR AT 100: A LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF ORNITHOLOGY

Auk, The, Jul 2004 by Bock, Walter J

Typically for Mayr, before leaving Germany he had obtained the directions on how to reach the International House on Riverside Drive just opposite Grant's Tomb in Manhattan by subway from the docks in Brooklyn, and further how to reach the AMNH the next day. He had reserved a room in the International House, which was established for foreign students and visitors. The next day, he reported to Chapman and asked for his assignment-on what project did Chapman as head of the Bird Department want him to start? As a former student and assistant in the Berlin Museum, Mayr was used to German procedures in which the boss tells the underlings exactly what to do. Chapman was used to different ways, and also was not deeply concerned with Old World birds. he indicated the collections with a wave of his hand and said in effect: "You came highly recommended as a specialist in South Pacific birds. Now get to work on whatever you consider most important and bring the completed manuscripts to me." Mayr was surprised, but took Chapman at his word and went to work with terrific diligence. His first paper on the AMNH collection was published on 31 March 1931 (Mayr 193Ib). Before the end of 1931, he completed 12 papers describing 12 new species and 68 new subspecies (peer reviews were not known in those days). But that effort made only a small dent in the available material from the South Sea Expedition. In total, Mayr has described 26 new species (Mayr 1991b, 2004; more than any other living ornithologist; he named a 27th species, but that species had been described a few days earlier by other workers) and 445 new subspecies of birds (J. Haffer pers. comm.), most during his tenure at the AMNH.

The next part of this set of accidental events involved Lord Rothschild, who was facing serious financial problems. That was in large part because he was being blackmailed by the infamous (but still unknown) "titled lady" (Rothschild 1983). Although anonymous, she deserves special mention in the annals of systematics and evolutionary biology because she was an essential link leading to Mayr's career in the United States and all of his contributions to ornithology, evolutionary theory, and the history and philosophy of biology. If Sanford was the shining knight in this tale, she was the dark lady, but just as important to the outcome of Mayr's career. Because she drained Rothschild's available funds, he was unable to continue his ornithological collecting and systematic studies.

When Ernst Hartert retired in 1930, Rothschild decided to offer the position of curator of birds at the Tring Museum to Mayr, but had not so informed him. Had he been offered that position in 1930-1931, Mayr would have accepted it because it was the best one he could have obtained at that time. In that case, he might have spent his life in the pleasant small provincial town of Tring without an academic atmosphere, and at best he would have become a well-known systematic ornithologist.

Again, Sanford was on the alert; and as soon as he learned that the Rothschild bird collection might be available, he went to Gertrude Whitney, the widow of Harry Payne Whitney, and convinced her to provide funds to purchase the collection. he left immediately for England with a signed blank check and was successful in the negotiations; on 13 February 1932, ownership of the Rothschild collection was transferred to AMNH. The 280,000 specimens of birds filled 185 large wooden packing cases (76 x 76 x 152 cm), all of which arrived safely at AMNH in the summer of 1932. The Rothschild collection had been dumped into Mayr's lap for integration into the main collection. Mayr resigned his position as an assistant in the Berlin Museum and was appointed Associate Curator of Birds of the AMNH in 1932; in 1935, he becamed the Whitney-Rothchild Curator.