History of Vernacular Names created

[Pete Eeles]

At long last, I've implemented a summary of the history of the vernacular names attributed to each of the species on the British checklist (something that Vince asked me about over 3 years ago!). A summary can be found here (and in a new "History" section on each species page):

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/vernacular_names.php

While this information is readily available in various publications (e.g. The Aurelian Legacy), linking the names up to online resources is not something that existed before now, and has taken some time! I've yet to add direct links to the relevant page in the publication; something else for the winter! The references page has also been updated accordingly (http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/references.php).

This work has been accelerated as a result of Dan Danahar taking on the unenviable task of creating a definitive video of each species for UKB, through interviews with relevant experts, and also supported by UKB (where I'm providing briefing sheets for both interviewer and interviewee). This is something that Dan has achieved with some success for Sussex species, as demonstrated on his YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRIWLr ... 9bmuxzOxSg

As ever, all comments/thoughts welcome.

Cheers,

- Pete

[peterc]

Excellent work, Pete.

The only very minor point I wish to make is that it might be more presentable to include all the species and their vernacular names in one giant table instead of a small table for each species.

Keep it up

ATB

Peter

[Padfield]

Brilliant work, Pete. Thank you.

I'm quite happy with the separate table for each species - a matter of taste, I guess. It might be useful to have a single reverse table too, so you could look up a vernacular name you had come across and discover what butterfly it was referring to, but to be honest no one reads down tables these days - they just do ctrl+F and find what they want on the page. So I wouldn't bother with that!

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks for the feedback, Peter, Guy. I've now made the table and columns a fixed width to provide some consistency, as if it were a large table.

Cheers,

- Pete

[peterc]

I like it - better than my suggestion

ATB

Peter

[Trev Sawyer]

Hi Pete,
Another excellent addition to the website - many thanks for your continuing enthusiasm for all things butterfly-related.
I was under the impression that as well as the Small Copper being known as the Small Tortioseshell in the early 1700's, the Small Tortoiseshell was called the Small Copper at that same time (that must have caused many identification issues over the years!) and that the names were essentially "swapped" later in the 18th Century. I think I read this in David Newland's "Discover Butterflies in Britain" (but not sure what his sources were).

Trev

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Trev - I can't find this in Newland. If you could find the source I'd appreciate it!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Vince Massimo]

Good work, Pete (and worth waiting for)
I think the present format is perfect.

Vince

[Pete Eeles]

I was under the impression that as well as the Small Copper being known as the Small Tortioseshell in the early 1700's, the Small Tortoiseshell was called the Small Copper at that same time (that must have caused many identification issues over the years!) and that the names were essentially "swapped" later in the 18th Century.

I think I may have found this - it's in Emmet & Heath, "The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland" (MOGBI vol. 7). It's not quite as you've described, with the Small Copper being called the Small Tortoise-shell by Petiver, by not vice-versa.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Trev Sawyer]

I've found it Pete...
It's mentioned on Page 171 in the Newland book.

Trev

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Trev - I'll contact David and report back!

Cheers,

- Pete

[essexbuzzard]

I love it! Some of these old names are brilliant- chequered hog. Who wouldn't like that name? According to Dr Jeremy Thomas, the Adonis blue was also known as the Deptford Blue.

[Pete Eeles]

I love it! Some of these old names are brilliant- chequered hog. Who wouldn't like that name? According to Dr Jeremy Thomas, the Adonis blue was also known as the Deptford Blue.

Thanks Mark - I wonder if he meant Dartford Blue? I'll try and find out.

Cheers,

- Pete

[essexbuzzard]

That is possible,maybe a typo error. Some of these old names are far more imaginative than the current names. I've heard some before but others are completely new to me-it's great to have them all in the same place like this. Congratulations on all your hard work.

[bugboy]

Fascinating list. I do like this kind of stuff, brings out my inner geek as if it needed any help!

I have a book, "Bugs Britannica" by Peter Marren and Richard Mabey which lists many of these names as well as a few more I have found with a quick flick through:

Peacock - Harvest Butterfly
Adonis Blue - Celestial Blue (c18)
Grizzled Skipper - Brown Marsh Fritillary (1717)
Orange-tip - Dutfields Wood Lady (1766)
Long-tailed Blue - Pea Blue
Northern Brown Argus - Castle Eden Argus (1828), Durham Argus (1832)
Painted Lady - Good King Henry

There's probably a few more...

It also lists Welsh and Irish names where applicable.

*Edit*
and one more, the book was published a year before the Cryptic Wood White was split off so it lists the Real's Wood White with a slightly dubious alternative name of 'Long-willied Wood White... I shan't comment any more on that one

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Paul! I'll try and get hold of a copy. Are references for the names provided?

Cheers,

- Pete

[Catteraxe]

I love Mr Ray's Alpine Butterfly - really descriptive that one!

[bugboy]

Thanks Paul! I'll try and get hold of a copy. Are references for the names provided?

Cheers,

- Pete

There's certainly a good few pages of references at the back but I'm not sure how many are specific to these alternative names. They do go into folklore a fair bit, especially with the more popular species like HIM and Red Admiral

[Padfield]

I Googled 'celestial blue + bellargus' because it struck me that was the Fench name for the butterfly too (l'azuré bleu céleste). I was taken to the Google Books copy of Bugs Britannica. It's not completely available online but much of it is and it makes for very interesting browsing. The references are not in the online sections. In many cases, the date of the name alone probably gives the reference - lots of names date to 1766, which is Harris, for example.

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Guy - I ordered Bugs Britannica yesterday

Cheers,

- Pete