$pecie$ Name$

[Murray J. Fletcher]

Although not commercialised in the same sense, Francis Walker earned his
living in the mid 19th century being paid for each species he named.
Apparently he earned 1 penny for each new species and a shilling for each
new genus. This might be why Stenocotis depressa (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
was described as nine different species in his 1851 paper and as a tenth
species in his 1858 paper. Such common species showing colour variation
were probably very helpful in providing for his large family

Murray Fletcher

PS a picture of Francis Walker and a sample of his handwriting can be seen
at the CHAEC page http://www.mov.vic.gov.au/chaec

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Dr Murray J. Fletcher
Director, Scientific Collections Unit
Orange Agricultural Institute
Forest Road, Orange NSW 2800
Australia

Ph: 61-63-913943
Fax: 61-63-913899
Email: fletchm at agric.nsw.gov.au
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