Peripheral Vision

Now that was an interesting observation - that, much as pet-owners come to resemble their pets, zoologists acquire the characteristics of their subjects. I'm referring to the parallels in intelligent problem-solving and speedy responsiveness which John Messenger drew between "JZ" and cephalopods at the recent Gentlemen and Players meeting. What an area for speculation, inviting us to sneak sidelong glances at colleagues! For many malacologists, unless our animals are a bit tasty or colourful, the more obvious comparisons between us and our special animals are less than flattering. Do we need to push for a little Political Correctness in this area? There is much scope for invention in those groups which, unlike cephalopods, are locomotorily disadvantaged - for example, the conchiferously-challenged slugs ("shell-less" parallels "spineless"), or the alternatively sexual, alternately sexed oysters. Should we ban "slimy" and "sluggish", and refer to slime trails and slugs alike by a euphonious term like "silverthreads"?

Putting these thoughts aside, there is a serious and worthwhile question to answer. Why did that person specialise on that group? The answers will contain pragmatic reasons, but a long-held attachment to a particular group will probably indicate that the researcher finds that group particularly suitable for investigating the problems or tackling issues which motivate him. In fact, the stimulation of the meetings of the Malacological Society frequently comes from the underlying theme of a talk which is almost peripheral to the speakers' specific subject, and often delivered as an aside. An example was the observation, made at the same meeting, that naturalists now return in middle age or post-retirement to the subject which stimulated their interest early on.

I am grateful to everyone who has contributed items for the Bulletin. Please send items for the next half-yearly Bulletin (Number 31, August 1998) to reach me by end of July. Keep articles simple and succinct, and, where appropriate, include a reference and an illustration.

Dr S E R Bailey

School of Biological Sciences,

3.614 Stopford Building,

The University of Manchester,

Oxford Rd,

Manchester M13 9PT, U.K.

Tel: 0161 275 3861

Fax: 0161 275 3938

Email: BBAI...@FS1.SCG.MAN.AC.UK

Bill Bailey

TAXONOMIC / NOMENCLATURAL DISCLAIMER

This publication is not deemed to be valid for taxonomic / nomenclatural purposes (see Article 8b in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 3rd Edition (1985) edited by W. D. Ride etal.).