[Taxacom] label abbreviation "dat."

[Spies, Martin]

Please excuse the cross-posting.


A printed label on an entomological specimen from the beginning of the 
20th century reads "dat." followed by a person's last name (without any 
case ending) and a date (year).

Stearn's (2004) "Botanical Latin", fourth edition, offers a list of 
standard abbreviations including the entry "dat.-- datus: given".

 From the above, is it possible to decide whether the label indicates 
'given by' or 'given to' that person?


Thanks a lot for any comments.

-- 
Martin Spies
c/o Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen
Germany