HALLER (Gustav) - Lot 106

Lot 106
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HALLER (Gustav) - Lot 106
HALLER (Gustav) German acarologist, active in the second half of the 19th century, specializing in mites (Acarina), whose work was a critical extension of that of Carl Ludwig Koch. Autograph letter signed, in German, with French translation attached. April 16, 1877. 1 page in-4. Interesting scientific letter devoted to the study of mites, and more particularly aquatic mites (Wassermilben), which were very inadequately studied at the time. Replying to his correspondent, the author stresses the inadequacy of the existing bibliography: "With the exception of a few small monographs, nothing coherent has been published on their subject". He insists on the absence of recent works of synthesis and deplores the "extremely neglected" state of this branch of zoology. The letter takes a particularly critical turn when he refers to Koch's work, the scope of which he acknowledges, while denouncing the superficiality of classifications: difficulty in identifying species, confusion between sexes and stages of development, artificial multiplication or, on the contrary, abusive grouping of species (notably in the genus Gamasus). He concludes by calling for a general revision of the order of mites, which he sees as one of the most urgent projects in contemporary zoology. A very interesting account of nineteenth-century taxonomic debates in the field of acarology, illustrating the transition from descriptive classifications to a more rigorous approach to species. Presence of an early typed French translation. Good condition.
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