Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)

Historical survey 49 Fauna Regni Hungáriáé, however, this vast work provided the basis for faunistic research in the Carpathian Basin for a long time to come. In 1920, KÁLMÁN VAKARCS (18721952) was posted to Szentgotthárd, where he taught at the state grammar school until his retirement in 1933, latterly as deputy principal. He dealt principally with ethnography, but he also explored the natural and historical aspects of the Szentgotthárd district as a voluntary collector.

140 His extensive works appeared after his retirement. His Account of Szentgotthárd and District (VAKARCS 1935) is more of a guidebook than anything else, although it contains information on local history. His subsequent Account of the SzentgotthárdMuraszombat District (VAKARCS 1939— Figure 2.30) is based on more thorough research, including valuable data on flora and fauna. He names some species specifically, but usually confines himself to generalities. However, his graphic descriptions are obviously based on some accurate faunistic knowledge. To exemplify this by quoting from the book, 'The Microhymenoptera fauna is extremely varied, with many wingless forms present. One inhabitant of the cliffs of the Fácános [Brook] is among the loveliest of this country's chrysidoid wasps: Holopyga fervida and in company with it the bee-killer wasp Philanthus triangulum. The district is,extremely rich in chrysidoid, chalcid and gall-inducing wasps, sawflies, spiders, butterflies and moths. About 500 species of moth are 140 BÁRDOSI, J. 1962. Vakarcs Kálmán (1872141 BALOGH, L, and I.E. KOVÁCS 2002. Pákay ( Szombathelyi tudós tanárok H. (Szombathely's Sehol; Dániel Megyei Könyvtár. known in the district.' However, we are not told who was researching into the fauna of the district at that time, with one exception: The grammar-school teacher JÓZSEF TRÄGER achieved great results in the field of beetle collecting.' The one published article by JÓZSEF TRÄGER (1937) is indeed about beetle collecting. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to discover what happened to his collection. The same applies to countless teachers, officials and clergy whose explorations of the fauna and flora of their districts were never published and their collections lost or destroyed in the confusion of the Second World War and subsequent years. An article on fishing in the Szentgotthárd district by KÁLMÁN VAKARCS (1956) appeared posthumously, listing the fish species living and caught in the River Rába. A paper entitled The Natural Relics of Vas County by ARNOLD PÁKAY PAUER

141 (Figure 2.31) can be seen as a milestone (PAUER 1932). Based on the guidelines of GYULA GÁYER, it was inspired by the movement begun by KÁROLY KAÁN to record 'natural assets'. The ideas and proposals put forward by PAUER still convey his ardent commitment. As the title suggests, he compiled a register of the natural assets in the country at that time, along with their characteristic habitats and an account of the prominent researchers into them with their findings. This also makes a useful source of information about changes in the living world. A comparison of his 952). Vasi Szemle 16:102-4. >auer) Arnold (1885-1968). In KÖBÖLKUTI, К. ed. rly Teachers II), 121-45. Szombathely: Berzsenyi