Boros István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 50. (Budapest 1958)

Boros, I.: Kálmán Kittenberger and the Hungarian National Museum - Museum of Natural History

Kittenberger, in reality, collected much more than is apparent from the above data. A lot of valuable material got spoiled due to the difficulties and lengthiness of transportation, especially in 1912 and in 1914, at the time of his interning, when all of his equipment and collectings, — and, as he mentioned several times, the most valuable ones he ever collected — were confiscated by the English colonial authorities. And, last but not least, we have to consider the circumstance that a great portion of his material is, as I have referred to it repeatedly, still unworked-out. Nor do we dispose of any exact information about his materials received by foreign museums. Even so, and in spite of these deficiencies, I think I have succeeded to show that his work meant big results for the collections, and through them for science, of the Hungarian National Museum — Museum of Natural History : he collected and dispatched to our Museum a material rich in species consisting of 3713 vertebrates and about 57 000 invertebrates, therefore more than 60 000 specimens. It is to be thanked to his activities, skill and diligence that, with regard to quantity, his overseas material, standing after that of J. X á nt u s and beside that of L. Biró, — from whose collectings we received 85 000, that is, 58 612 specimens, •—• made it possible that the Zoological Department of the Hungarian National Museum could justly line up to the zoological collections of the biggest European museums which, concerning the acquiring of overseas material, are in a much better position and dispose of more favourable possibilities. Since, however, the value of a collection is by far not determined by the amount of material composing it, we also should not evaluate the results of Kittenberge r's African collectings from this point of view only, and I have to emphasize that about 300 new species, hitherto unknown to science, were found in the material originating from him. This is what really points out its value and the zoological significance of Kittenberge r's work. ,,The material collected and sent to us by him has a high scientifical value and increased our knowledge of the East African fauna by numerous new discoveries", writes G. Horváth in a memorandum in 1906. Yet, at that time, the connections of the Museum and Kittenberger locked back for a few years only! Today, and in the knowledge of much more significant results as well as from a historical perspective, we are in a far more favourable position to strike the balance of his activities and to state, on this base, that he rendered valuable service not only for his country but also for international science. His huntings in Africa, his research work and observations mean a priceless increase of universal culture both from a Hungarian and from a worldwide point of view. The nearly 40 animal species, named in his honor, justly immortalize his name, and that more endurably than marble. His congenial figure radiating a noble modesty could have vanished from our circle forever, but the memory of his love of Nature, his example, and mainly his work can never be forgotten either by the Museum or by science. Bibliography: Kittenberger, K. : Vadász- és gyűjtőutam Kelet-Afrikában 1903—1926 (Budapest, 1927). Kittenberger, K. : A megváltozott Afrika (Budapest, 1930). Kittenberger, K. : Vadászkalandok Afrikában (Budapest, 1955). Kittenberger, K. : A Kilima-Ndzsarótó] Nag\maro?ig (Budapest, 1956). — Ann. Hist.-nat. Mus. Nat. Hung. 1904, 1911, 1912, 1941, 1947). — Arch. Zool. (1909). — Ann. Mus. Congo Zool. (1951). — Acta Zool. (1954). — Arch, für Naturgeschichte (1920. — Rev. Biol. Colon. 1941. — Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. (1912, 1954). — Ornithologische Monatsberichte (1904).