• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

F. W. A. von Mechow, and "his" Birds (1 Viewer)

Björn Bergenholtz

(former alias "Calalp")
Sweden
Here's a short question, re. the Scientific name ...

mechowi as in:
• the Dusky (or Whistling) Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi CABANIS 1882 (here, in text) as "C. [Cercococcyx] Mechowi", a k a Coucou de Mechow (in French)
• • • • four other taxa (two subspecies, and two synonyms – neither one checked, nor confirmed, by me).

In today's Key this eponym is explained as:
mechowi
Maj. Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow (1831-1890) Prussian explorer, collector in Angola 1873-1875, 1879-1882 (subsp. Anarhynchus marginatus, Cercoccyx, syn. Cinnyris venustus falkensteini, syn. Euplectes axillaris bocagei, subsp. Melierax metabates).

But ... in a Paper about the (German) botanical exploration of Angola, by Figueiredo et al. (2020*), we find this guy (on pp.145–146, incl. a Photo of him, together with his local Crew) as; Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow (1831–1904).
Biographical sketch
Born Lauban, Silesia (then a province of Prussia), Poland, 9 December 1831 – Died Jugenheim/Bergstraße, Germany, 14 March 1904.
[...]
Collecting activity in Angola
Date: 6 November 1878–April 1881.
[...]

Thus, did he pass away in "1890", or in "1904" ... ?!?

Only one Death year can be correct. ;)

Anyone who know the true answer?

Either way, take it for what it's worth, it's just an observation ...

Björn


*Figueiredo, E., G. F. Smith & S. Dressler. 2020 The botanical exploration of Angola by Germans during the 19th and 20th centuries, with biographical sketches and notes on collections and herbaria. Blumea 65 (2): 126–161. (here)
 
Here. He was a serious soldier.

Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow, born on December 9, 1831 in Lauben in Silesia. Mr Huters School in Gnadenfrei, Cadet Houses in Wahlstatt and Berlin. April 27, 1850 assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment as a non-commisoned officer. Division schools in Trier and Erfurt. May 18, 1852 second lieutenant. 1855 to 1858 at the General War School; In addition, 3 months of service each in 1856 with the 2nd Artillery, in 1857 with the 7th (Magdeburg) Cuirassiers "von Seydlitz" and in 1859 with the Guard Pioneer Detachment. March 1st to June 16th, 1859 and September 10th, 1859 to the end of 1862 to mapping Magdeburg for the fortification there. June 17 to September 9, 1859 Service with the 3rd Battalion (Aschersleben) 27th Landwehr Regiment. August 18, 1860 Premier Lieutenant. Transferred to the 4th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment No. 67 on January 23, 1861. January 9, 1864 assigned to the 1st West Prussian Grenadier Regiment No. 6. June 15, 1866 Captain and company chief. 19th Company. 1866 campaign against Austria. Battles at Nachod 27th, Skalis 28th and Schweinschädel June 29th, Battle of Königgräş July 3rd, battles at Gradlig and Schürz. Nother Ablerorden 4th class with swords. 1870/71 campaign against France. Battle of Weissenburg 4th, Battle of Wörth 6th August. Seriously wounded. Siege of Paris. Battle of Mont Valérien January 19th. Iron Cross 2nd Class. 1872 and 1873 tires in southern Europe, Driente and North Africa. On January 15, 1874, he was granted retirement as a major with the uniform of this regiment, a pension and the prospect of employment with the gendarmerie. 1874 and 1875 research trip on behalf of the German African Society to the Loango coast and 1878 to 1881 on behalf of the government research into the Kuango area in South-West Africa. Residence in Berlin. Published several accounts/maps about his research trips. Since February 19 [1890] on a Scientific trip to Sweden.

in Gothaisches genealogisches Taschenbuch der briefadeligen Häuser says born 22 Dez 1831 (perhaps baptism date?). Made a member of the Prussian nobility in Berlin January 23, 1861. No official birth or death records found.
 
Last edited:


Write your reply...

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top