Page 76 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #05

ROTHSCHILD’S

SPECIES

Not only was Rothschild well-
regarded as a zoologist, he
also helped to fund scientific
expeditions, so it’s hardly
surprising that dozens of
species were named in his
honour. Many are butterflies,
beetles and birds, reflecting his
main passions. A total of 153
insects, 58 birds, 18 mammals,
three fish, three spiders, two
reptiles, a millipede and a worm
carry his name. Showy examples
include Rothschild’s birdwing
butterfly of New Guinea, a
subspecies of giraffe and the
spectacular Rothschild’s Atlas
moth from South America.

Rothschild’s giraffe
is one of many
animals to bear the
collector’s name.

For the next 19 years he was grudgingly the Natural History Museum. It’s one of the Clockwise from
above: stuffed
and uselessly employed at the family bank greatest natural history collections in the
birds on display
before he was permitted to leave. world – and the biggest zoological collection at Tring; a portrait
Although Walter had undertaken ever assembled by a private individual. of the imposingly
zoological expeditions to Europe and North This phenomenal haul of natural riches built, but shy Lionel
Walter Rothschild;
Africa as a young man, health issues arose included 300,000 bird skins, 200,000 the naturalist
H story Museum/A amy; tax derm st: NHM Images; G rafe: Theo Allofs/Minden/FLPA; display: Robert Stainforth/Alamy; dormouse: Dave Watt/naturepl.com; commission explorers and collectors to mammals and reptiles. Most impressive of Minall working
subsequently that restricted any further
birds’ eggs and 30,000 beetles, along
on Rotumah;
adventures. As a result he began to
with thousands of specimens of fish,
taxidermist Alfred
on Rothschild’s
acquire specimens from around the globe
all, however, is the more than two million
specimens in 1890.
butterfly and moth specimens (now housed
on his behalf. He went on to employ
taxidermists, a librarian and scientists to
at the Natural History Museum) which form
a key part of that institution’s Lepidoptera
help him curate and document the
research collections.
specimens being brought back. German
“What Walter left us is irreplaceable,”
ornithologist Ernst Hartert oversaw the
Alice says. “His legacy is internationally
birds, while his fellow countryman Karl
significant and scientifically valuable.”
portra t, Tr ng & torto se: The Natura Jordan was put in charge of the HIS PHENOMENAL HAUL INCLUDED
entomological specimens.
An unrivalled collection
In 1892, Walter opened what had been his
300,000 BIRD SKINS, 200,000 BIRDS’
personal museum to the public. It became
the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum
at Tring, but has since become a branch of EGGS AND 30,000 BEETLES.
76 BBC Wildlife Spring 2018