A. Maitland Emmet
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel A. Maitland Emmet (1908 – 3 March 2001) was an amateur entomologist and a former schoolmaster who taught Latin
, English
and Ancient Greek
. He was a former President of the British Entomological and Natural History Society
, a former President of the Amateur Entomologists' Society
, and a Vice-President of the Royal Entomological Society, having been elected a fellow of that Society in 1984. Among other positions held in relation to his entomological work are:
Maitland Emmet was author, co-author or editor of a number of works devoted to entomological topics, but his best-known publication is The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera: Their History and Meaning, which is considered the definitive work of its kind. As well as an in-depth analysis of scientific names, this work covers in considerable detail the detective work required to shed light upon the work of past taxonomists
, several of whom (most notably Fabricius
) took delight in setting convoluted puzzles for their peers. A quote from Maitland Emmet's book in this respect is apposite and illuminating:
During his life, Maitland Emmet became one of Britain's leading specialists in the Microlepidoptera
, as well as a Classical scholar.
He was an editor of The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland
.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
. He was a former President of the British Entomological and Natural History Society
British Entomological and Natural History Society
The British Entomological and Natural History Society or BENHS is a British entomological society. It is based at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Reading.-History:BENHS was founded in 1872 as the South London Entomological and Natural History Society....
, a former President of the Amateur Entomologists' Society
Amateur Entomologists' Society
The Amateur Entomologists' Society is a UK organisation for people interested in insects.-History:Based in the UK, the Amateur Entomologists' Society was founded in 1935 as The Entomological Exchange and Correspondence Club, for the purpose of providing a forum through which amateur and young...
, and a Vice-President of the Royal Entomological Society, having been elected a fellow of that Society in 1984. Among other positions held in relation to his entomological work are:
- Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London
- Member of Societas Europaea LepidopterologicaSocietas Europaea LepidopterologicaSocietas Europaea Lepidopterologica is the European society for the study of moths and butterflies and for the conservation of these insects and their natural habitats...
Maitland Emmet was author, co-author or editor of a number of works devoted to entomological topics, but his best-known publication is The Scientific Names of the British Lepidoptera: Their History and Meaning, which is considered the definitive work of its kind. As well as an in-depth analysis of scientific names, this work covers in considerable detail the detective work required to shed light upon the work of past taxonomists
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...
, several of whom (most notably Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
) took delight in setting convoluted puzzles for their peers. A quote from Maitland Emmet's book in this respect is apposite and illuminating:
- "Scientific names have much in common with crossword puzzles. The nomenclator is the setter; he searches for a name that is neat and appropriate and if he can mystify his fellow entomologists, he will derive sadistic pleasure in so doing" (p. 13)
During his life, Maitland Emmet became one of Britain's leading specialists in 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...
, as well as a Classical scholar.
He was an editor of The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland is a multi-volume reference work on the lepidoptera of the British Isles.The series is published by Harley Books....
.