Names for sale

[Jef Veldkamp]

   In a Dutch journal (Publiek Domein 1/4, 1995, 2-4) it was mentioned
that a British Nature conservation organization 'BirdLife International'
in Cambridge, U.K. has successfully auctioned off the epithet of the
"Choco' vireo", apparently a new species of bird from Colombia to an
unnamed 'American' for at least US$ 100,000. The auction was organized
by the discoverers of the bird. The money is to be used to buy up 3000
hectares of the threatened area where the bird lives for a Nature Reserve.
   The spokesman of the organization was quoted to expect that similar
auctions were to be held in the 'near future'.
   Nomina politica are of course nothing new. Among flowering plants
we have the Napoleonaeaceae with Napoleonaea imperialis. Victoria regia
is another. There is supposed to be a beetle called Hitleria goebelsi.

a. Is this information correct? If so, what are the name, author, and
   publication?
b. How ethical is it to sell names of new taxa?
c. Wouldn't you like a piece of the cake?
d. How much at least?

   Personal replies will be answered after April 1 (no joke intended:
I'm off until the end of the month).

JeF Veldkamp
Rijksherbarium / Hortus Botanicus
POB 9514, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
tel. + 31 (0) 715 27 35 49  --- fax. + 31 (0) 715 27 35 11