Yule Mervyn Charles McCann (4 December 1899 – 29 November 1980) was a naturalist in India. He wrote a popular book on the trees of India and edited a major regional flora apart from publishing many of his other observations, mainly in the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) that he was associated with.
Born at Castle Rock in India, his exposure to the wilderness during his childhood in the forests of the Goa area shaped his lifelong interest in natural history:[1]
Some of the grandest tropical forest surrounded the area and the fauna abounded with wildlife, from elephants to flies, so much so that doors had to be closed at sundown for fear of dangerous intruders—even the King Cobra, though rare, occurred in the area. Such an environment seems to have influenced my future as a student of nature! My parents informed me that I was the bane of their existence for I froze on to everything that moved. All attempts at shaping my ends had no avail. From misdirected babyhood onwards the kink increased out of all proportion (according to some, I was just daft!)
He studied at St. Mary's High school at Mazagaon in Bombay (now Mumbai) and worked for a while under Father Ethelbert Blatter at St. Xavier's College as a laboratory assistant and curator. During 1916-1920 he worked under Blatter on botany. He briefly worked with the Bombay city police and then joined the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as a collector for the Mammal Survey. He worked on the survey around 1921–22 in the Palni Hills and also in the Indus delta areas.[1]
Careeredit
Collecting in the Palni Hills c. 1921
McCann became the Assistant Curator and served as editor of the Journal of the BNHS. He was involved in the development of the Natural History galleries of the Prince of Wales Museum of Bombay. He was a prolific writer and published 200 articles and papers in the Journal of the BNHS, covering plants, birds, mammals and insects. He was also a fellow of the Linnean Society of London.[1]
In 1946 he resigned his post at the BNHS and migrated to New Zealand. The executive committee of the Bombay Natural History Society noted:[1]
The merit of his scientific work is evidenced in his many contributions to the journal of the Society. He is one of the outstanding botanists in India and his monograph on Grasses, which he wrote jointly with the late Fr. Blatter and which was published under the aegis of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, will remain for many years the standard work on the subject. Equally outstanding in merit are his various revisions of the genera and species of Indian plants which the Society was privileged to publish. McCann also contributed various authoritative papers on Indian Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians. The study of nature was his absorbing passion and his main recreation… His resignation is a great loss to the Society.
In New Zealand he joined the Dominion Museum (now Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa) at Wellington as a Vertebrate Zoologist. He became interested in the whale and seal collections as well as deep-sea fishes.[1] He also made significant contributions to New Zealand herpetology.[2]
The BNHS instituted the Charles McCann Vertebrate Fieldwork Fund in his memory to promote field research.[1]
Familyedit
McCann married Eleanor Mary Allen (b. 1906) and they had three children Carlyle (“Carl”) Ethelbert McCann (1928–1995), Trevor Ian McCann (1930–2006) and Marie Dolores McCann (1934–2005). After the death of Eleanor in 1956 he married Muriel Florence Mottershead and they had a son Robbie McCann.[2]
Publicationsedit
A partial list of publications.
Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society
(1930) Nidification of Storks. JBNHS. 34(2):579-581.
(1931) Courtship of the Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus). JBNHS. 34(4):1061-1062.
(1931) Notes on the Whistling School Boy or Malabar Whistling Thrush (Myiophoneus horsfieldi, Vigors). JBNHS. 35(1):202-204.
(1932) Notes on the nesting habits of the Red-vented Bulbul (Molpastes cafer). JBNHS. 35(3):680-681.
(1936) The Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (Pontopp.) out at sea. JBNHS. 38(3):623-624.
(1940) A note on the Alpine Swift (Micropus melba bakeri Hartert). JBNHS. 42(1):198-199.
Hughes, A R & McCann, C (1939) On the road to Gersoppa and back. JBNHS. 41:446.
(1932) Nestling of the Indian Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) attacked by larvae of parasitic fly. JBNHS. 35(4):897-898.
(1933) The Brown Hawk-owl (Ninox scutulata Raffles) feeding on bats. JBNHS. 36(4):1002-1003.
(1937) Curious behaviour of the Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchus) and the White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis). JBNHS. 39(4):864.
(1937) The distribution of the White-eared Bulbul (Molpastes leucogenys leucotis (Gould)) in the swamps near the Vaitarna River. JBNHS. 39(4):864-865.
(1937) The breeding of the Little Green Bittern (Butorides striatus javanicus) in Salsette Island. JBNHS. 39(4):869-870.
^ abcdefAbdulali, H (1980). "Obituary: Charles McCann (1899-1980)". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 77 (3): 494–496.
^ abGill, B. J.; Froggatt, J.M.A. (2014). "The Indian herpetological collections of Charles McCann". Records of the Auckland Museum. 49: 29–37. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
Blatter, E; Charles McCann (1935) Bombay grasses. ICAR, Delhi.
April 11, 2024
charles, mccann, other, people, named, disambiguation, yule, mervyn, december, 1899, november, 1980, naturalist, india, wrote, popular, book, trees, india, edited, major, regional, flora, apart, from, publishing, many, other, observations, mainly, journal, bom. For other people named Charles McCann see Charles McCann disambiguation Yule Mervyn Charles McCann 4 December 1899 29 November 1980 was a naturalist in India He wrote a popular book on the trees of India and edited a major regional flora apart from publishing many of his other observations mainly in the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society BNHS that he was associated with Charles McCannCharles McCann in 1939BornCastle Rock Karnataka Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Family 4 Publications 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBorn at Castle Rock in India his exposure to the wilderness during his childhood in the forests of the Goa area shaped his lifelong interest in natural history 1 Some of the grandest tropical forest surrounded the area and the fauna abounded with wildlife from elephants to flies so much so that doors had to be closed at sundown for fear of dangerous intruders even the King Cobra though rare occurred in the area Such an environment seems to have influenced my future as a student of nature My parents informed me that I was the bane of their existence for I froze on to everything that moved All attempts at shaping my ends had no avail From misdirected babyhood onwards the kink increased out of all proportion according to some I was just daft He studied at St Mary s High school at Mazagaon in Bombay now Mumbai and worked for a while under Father Ethelbert Blatter at St Xavier s College as a laboratory assistant and curator During 1916 1920 he worked under Blatter on botany He briefly worked with the Bombay city police and then joined the Bombay Natural History Society BNHS as a collector for the Mammal Survey He worked on the survey around 1921 22 in the Palni Hills and also in the Indus delta areas 1 Career edit nbsp Collecting in the Palni Hills c 1921McCann became the Assistant Curator and served as editor of the Journal of the BNHS He was involved in the development of the Natural History galleries of the Prince of Wales Museum of Bombay He was a prolific writer and published 200 articles and papers in the Journal of the BNHS covering plants birds mammals and insects He was also a fellow of the Linnean Society of London 1 In 1946 he resigned his post at the BNHS and migrated to New Zealand The executive committee of the Bombay Natural History Society noted 1 The merit of his scientific work is evidenced in his many contributions to the journal of the Society He is one of the outstanding botanists in India and his monograph on Grasses which he wrote jointly with the late Fr Blatter and which was published under the aegis of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research will remain for many years the standard work on the subject Equally outstanding in merit are his various revisions of the genera and species of Indian plants which the Society was privileged to publish McCann also contributed various authoritative papers on Indian Mammals Reptiles and Amphibians The study of nature was his absorbing passion and his main recreation His resignation is a great loss to the Society In New Zealand he joined the Dominion Museum now Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa at Wellington as a Vertebrate Zoologist He became interested in the whale and seal collections as well as deep sea fishes 1 He also made significant contributions to New Zealand herpetology 2 The BNHS instituted the Charles McCann Vertebrate Fieldwork Fund in his memory to promote field research 1 Family editMcCann married Eleanor Mary Allen b 1906 and they had three children Carlyle Carl Ethelbert McCann 1928 1995 Trevor Ian McCann 1930 2006 and Marie Dolores McCann 1934 2005 After the death of Eleanor in 1956 he married Muriel Florence Mottershead and they had a son Robbie McCann 2 Publications editA partial list of publications Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 1930 Nidification of Storks JBNHS 34 2 579 581 1931 Courtship of the Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus JBNHS 34 4 1061 1062 1931 Notes on the Whistling School Boy or Malabar Whistling Thrush Myiophoneus horsfieldi Vigors JBNHS 35 1 202 204 1932 Notes on the nesting habits of the Red vented Bulbul Molpastes cafer JBNHS 35 3 680 681 1936 The Short eared Owl Asio flammeus Pontopp out at sea JBNHS 38 3 623 624 1940 A note on the Alpine Swift Micropus melba bakeri Hartert JBNHS 42 1 198 199 Hughes A R amp McCann C 1939 On the road to Gersoppa and back JBNHS 41 446 1932 Nestling of the Indian Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis attacked by larvae of parasitic fly JBNHS 35 4 897 898 1933 The Brown Hawk owl Ninox scutulata Raffles feeding on bats JBNHS 36 4 1002 1003 1937 Curious behaviour of the Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchus and the White backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis JBNHS 39 4 864 1937 The distribution of the White eared Bulbul Molpastes leucogenys leucotis Gould in the swamps near the Vaitarna River JBNHS 39 4 864 865 1937 The breeding of the Little Green Bittern Butorides striatus javanicus in Salsette Island JBNHS 39 4 869 870 1939 The Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber antiquorum Temm JBNHS 41 1 12 38 1941 Vultures and palms JBNHS 42 2 439 440 1941 Curious nesting site of the Red wattled Lapwing Lobivanellus indicus indicus Bodd JBNHS 42 2 439 440 1947 Flamingoes in Kutch a comment JBNHS 47 1 164 166 1954 Birds associating natural phenomena with food supply JBNHS 52 2 3 607 609 1955 Has the Cuckoo a protrusible ovipositor JBNHS 52 4 931 932 1942 A busman s holiday in the Abu Hills JBNHS 43 2 206 217 1941 Two naturalists visit Karwar North Kanara JBNHS 42 3 602 610 1943 The rains come to the Abu hills JBNHS 43 4 641 647 On the Breeding Habits of some Myriapoda JBNHS 26 303 4 A note on the Habits of the Large scaled Earth Snake Silybura macrolepis JBNHS 29 1062 3 Occurrence of the worm like Batrachian Ichthyophis monochrous at Khandala Poona District JBNHS 31 1039 The Study of Plant Life 3 parts Vols JBNHS 32 692 703 2 plates amp 5 text figures and JBNHS 33 35 46 262 278 Notes on the Flowering of Strobilanthes callosus JBNHS 34 264 65 Notes on some wild species of Aroids JBNHS 34 518 21 On the Fertilization of the Flowers of the Sausage Tree Kigelia pinnata by Bats JBNHS 35 467 71 Notes on Indian Batrachians 10 plates 2 text figures JBNHS 36 152 80 Notes on the Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus JBNHS 37 143 49 Notes on the Common Land Crab Paratelphusa guerini of Salsette JBNHS 39 531 The Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber antiquorum Temm 7 plates JBNHS 41 21 38 A Reptile and Amphibian Miscellany 2 parts 15 plates 3 text figures JBNHS 41 742 64 JBNHS 42 45 64 Two naturalists visit Karwar N Kanara 1 plate JBNHS 42 602 10 The Rains come to the Abu Hills with a plate JBNHS 43 641 47 With Blatter REV E S J Ph D F I S Revision of the Flora of the Bombay Presidency 16 parts Vols JBNHS 32 36 Two new Species of Grasses from Panchgani Satara District JBNHS 32 357 58 Some new species of Plants from the Western Ghats JBNHS 32 733 36 A New Ceropegia from the Western Ghats JBNHS 34 936 Another new Ceropegia from the Western Ghats JBNHS 35 409 Books 1959 100 Beautiful trees of IndiaThe standard author abbreviation McCann is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 3 References edit a b c d e f Abdulali H 1980 Obituary Charles McCann 1899 1980 J Bombay Nat Hist Soc 77 3 494 496 a b Gill B J Froggatt J M A 2014 The Indian herpetological collections of Charles McCann Records of the Auckland Museum 49 29 37 Retrieved 23 April 2016 International Plant Names Index McCann External links editBlatter E Charles McCann 1935 Bombay grasses ICAR Delhi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles McCann amp oldid 1176363556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
