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The system of binomial nomenclature and wider taxonomic paradigm forged by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century came from his original approach to understanding the natural world. It was also a product of environmental, economic, social, cultural, political and theological influences of the time. For Linnaeus the identification, naming and classification of different kinds of animals, plants, diseases, fossils and rocks had practical as well as theoretical importance. In his life and work he clearly demonstrates the 'scientific approach' including careful information gathering, exploration, empiricism, dissection, accurate observations and published descriptions. There is an inspirational use of morphological characters in comparative diagnoses, a requirement for material evidence to support hypotheses and the systematic and hierarchical organisation of knowledge. However, techniques for specimen preservation and analysis were limited and sample sizes too small to properly characterise wild populations. Thus he bequeathed artificial and 'typological' more than biological concepts determined by form and pattern rather than process. Species and genera were regarded as fixed, objective entities. This is sometimes associated with the supposedly stultifying effects of Aristotelian essentialism on Linnaean and later taxonomy. 'Natural' classification, as far as developed, was not phyletic but, instead, reflected Wolffianism, a modified creationist doctrine. Nonetheless, Linnaeus was the first to formally recognise the close affinity between humans and primates, a controversial idea later fully developed by Charles Darwin. Even so, Linnaeus did not always distinguish between mythological versus real creatures and incredible versus credible hypotheses. His understanding of 'cause and effect' was circumscribed by prevailing Lutheran theology and Cartesian mechanistic philosophy. Linnaeus was as much a working physician, agriculturalist and land surveyor as he was a taxonomist. Contemporary economic biology and biotechnology are anticipated in his animal and plant breeding and pearl culturing experiments. In the great body of Linnaeus' letters, manuscripts and books are discernable foundations for many other later disciplines. These include: anthropology, biogeography, bioinformatics, biomechanics, biological control, conservation, ecology, epidemiology, Darwinian evolution, ethnography, medical diagnostics, microbiology, palaeontology, pharmacology and phylogenetic systematics.

During his long and storied professional career, Richard Peter Vari established himself as one of the world's foremost systematic ichthyologists, mentored dozens of junior scientists, devoted countless hours to professional service, developed a globe-spanning network of professional collaborations, and maintained a deep and consistent commitment to his loving family and friends. This article highlights the lasting impact of his scholarship, service, and character, and preserve memories of Vari's joyous and collegial spirit for future generations.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUNDHuman interest in fishes and their reproduction has long been supremely practical. Archaeological studies from Neolithic ‘kitchen middens’ of Denmark (c. 9000–6000 BC) provide evidence of a marine capture fishery for herring, cod, flounder and eel (Travis Jenkins, 1927). It is likely that such pre-agricultural ‘stone age’ humans trapped fishes inshore and on rivers, including populations migrating for spawning. Such practices continue today, including indigenous communities in West Africa using woven fences to trap migrant fishes (Teugels et al., 1992).Farming freshwater fishes in ponds for food dates from c. 4500 years ago in Sumeria, ancient Egypt, Assyria and China, with evidence that artificial hatching was practised latterly (Hickling, 1971). Basic fish culture existed in the Roman Empire (Higginbotham, 1997), and holding or ‘stew’ ponds for bream and perch are well known from mediaeval Europe, with proper fish farming established between AD 1400 and 1500 (Hickling, 1971). Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and goldfish (Carrassius auratus) were first bred ornamentally in Korea and China (c. 960 BC) and Japan (c. AD 1500) where artificial selection was used to produce aesthetically pleasing coloured varieties.The practical benefits of fish reproduction attracted early scholars such as Fan Lai (c. 475 BC) and Aristotle (c. 340 BC). A utilitarian, ethnocentric approach to fish reproduction persists today and dominates scientific studies. The main thrust of modern aquaculture is towards improved utilisation of fish (or their gametes – milt, roe, caviar) for food, products or sport fishing.

King had joined Liverpool as a lecturer in animal husbandry in 1941, when the university acquired the site for its veterinary field station at Leahurst, the first at a British veterinary school. Much of the success of that concept of a field station, as well as that of the animal husbandry department itself, can be ascribed to his endeavours. His work as a staff member and warden of the Leahurst stu dent hostel, departmental head and dean was crucial. Ever since acquiring his qualification as a veterinary surgeon in the late 1930s, King's career had shadowed the progress of Chester Zoo, and thus the North of England Zoological Society. His work at Chester was valued enormously. He became a zoo member, then a council member and, from 1972 to 1986, council chairman, guiding it during the last years of [George Mottershead]'s life and taking over the society during the interregnum following his death.

The chancellor's proposed changes to the gift aid legislation in the next finance bill with regard to daily admissions revenue will cost leading British conservation organisations millions of pounds in revenue, forcing...

As pressure on world biodiversity and heritage increases, our work has never been more urgent or significant. Gift aid has brought us all a welcome revenue boost; it has also made our day visitors better understand that we are charities engaged in vital behind-the- scenes work. Visitors are delighted to be able to contribute a little more to our work and are often pleasantly surprised it is an enlightened government initiative that allows them to do so.