On Wed, 26 Apr 1995, Stuart MacKay wrote:

> The only bad example of this would be Steller's Sea-lion, Steller's Sea
> Eagle. Being named after Steller seems to be the kiss of death for most
> species.

Don't forget the Steller's sea-cow, a 30-foot manatee that used to ply
the waters of the Bering Sea. Discovered by Bering's crew in 1741,
extinct by 1768 (that's only 27 years).

(Isn't that uplifting?)


Certainly a case where the whalers of the time could correctly say to
their comrades, 'I had a Steller's sea-cow today'. Baked with butter and
salt?

-------------
Michael R. Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html