Fact check: Mostly false

 

There is a persistent rumor, even in the mainstream media, that the Danish king Frederik X changed the royal coat of arms of Denmark as a direct response to Donald Trump´s territorial designs on Greenland. Even Danish pundits are pushing the rumor.

There is just one problem: it doesn´t seem to be true. The changes in question were recommended by a royal commission already on January 20, 2024. They were officially announced on December 20, 2024. Trump´s demand on Greenland came two days later and wasn´t widely reported until December 23.

The changes in the Danish royal coat of arms didn´t take effect until January 1, 2025. This probably fuelled the speculations that the change was a deliberate snub to Trump. The king apparently *did* call for increased unity between the various parts of the Danish Commonwealth in a New Year statement, which (of course) could be interpreted as a snub against both Trump and the premier of Greenland (who demands full independence for the island).     

Finally, note that Frederik became king on January 14, 2024. It´s therefore logical that he would update the royal coat of arms, which was heavily anachronistic. The three crowns could be seen both as a symbol of the medieval Kalmar Union and as a veiled claim on the Swedish throne. Since Sweden and Denmark haven´t been enemy nations for two centuries, the presence of the three crowns in the Danish royal coat of arms looks frankly weird. 

To sum up: when the three crowns (whatever they might mean) were removed, both the polar bear (Greenland) and the ram (the Faroe Islands) became more prominent. But Trump has made no demands on the Faroe Islands. So no, the change has nothing to do with Trump, but I can´t really blame the Danes for spreading the rumor... 

 

ÄNTLIGEN

 

Om jutarna och deras lögner... 

Igår dog Kalmarunionen för gott

Collectable demons

 

The Faroe Islands are a Danish territory in the North Sea, where the population speaks its own distinctive language. When not busy slaughtering pilot whales or banning the film "The Da Vinci Code", they apparently put demonic entities on their postage stamps?! 

Which makes me wonder why they banned the Dan Brown movie, but whatever. Karl Shuker has the story below. 

Crypto-Philately in the Faroes 

Nordic tribes

"Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges flora och fauna" is a multi-volume work covering select portions of the Swedish plant- and wildlife. Originally intended to cover *all* (!) species of plants, animals and fungi in Sweden, the series is now published on a more sporadic basis. 

"Tvåvingar: Blomflugor.  Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae" (otherwise known as volume DH53a) covers 169 species of hoverflies of the subfamily Syrphinae. The two other syrphid subfamilies, Eristalinae and Microdontinae, are covered in vol DH53b (reviewed by me elsewhere on this blog). For some reason, the hoverfly volumes cover all Nordic species, not just the Swedish ones. The Nordic countries and territories are Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Svalbard. Greenland is excluded. 

Volume DH53a begins with a general overview of the hoverfly family, including sections on morphology, ecology, species diversity and collection for study (why would anyone want to kill and collect these beautiful creatures, is beyond me). Systematics are apparently difficult in this group. The existence of three subfamilies is generally accepted, the number and extent of tribes and genera not so much. "Nationalnyckeln" accepts the following tribes within Syrphinae: Bacchini, Melanostomini, Paragini, Chrysotoxini, Syrphini. 

The bulk of the book contains species presentations. General characteristics, behavior, range, and the etymology and pronunciation of the scientific name are discussed for each species. Range maps are included. The Swedish vernacular names seem to be mostly new, constructed by the "Committee for Swedish Animal Names" (I didn´t know we had one!). Each species is illustrated both to scale and magnified, and most illustrations are in color. There are also lavish color photos in the introduction. There are very short English summaries, and bilingual identification keys, but otherwise this is a Swedish in-house work. 

Still, since hoverflies are more appealing than, say, gadflies, the volume could be an excellent collector´s item even if you don´t understand a word of it! Recommended. 

Colorful booklice

This is one of the most amazing books I've ever seen, amazing as in Galaxy Brain material. :D

OK, seriously…

The Swedish “Nationalnyckeln” was supposed to become a super-encyclopedia to end all encyclopedias, covering all (!) species of living organisms in Sweden. Unfortunately, every single volume became too expensive, and the Swedish government (which financed the project) discontinued it after only 17 volumes. However, it seems the project is up and running again, although it's unclear at this time for how long.

This volume was published in 2010 and covers all Nordic species of Psocoptera, small insects often referred to as booklice or barklice. “Nordic” here refers to Scandinavia, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Svalbard. Currently, 82 species of psocids are known from the Nordic countries (although none from Svalbard), although about one-fifth are probably non-native imports. What makes this volume so fascinating is that it includes large color photos of many species! Something tells me books about booklice aren't usually this colorful…

A few volumes of “Nationalnyckeln” contain English summaries of the species presentations, but not this one. The keys are bilingual, though. However, the bulk of the material is in Swedish only.

Personally, I eagerly await future volumes about Twisted-Wing Parasites, Silverfish, Botflies and, I suppose, Birds, but something tells me I have to wait a very long time, until, say 2050 AD…

Code name hoverfly

“Nationalnyckeln” is a Swedish encyclopedia originally projected to describe all (sic) species of plants, animals and fungi found in Sweden. After a while, the Swedish government (which brokered the mastodon project) got cold feet and withdrew financing, forcing the publishers to discontinue after only 17 volumes. However, I recently learned that the project is up and running again, but at a slower pace than before, and it's not clear at the present time whether the ambition is still to cover all existing species, or simply to continue for as long as finances allow.

This volume, code named DH 53b, was published in 2009. It's the second of two volumes covering all species of hoverflies (Syrphidae) found in the Nordic countries. Hoverflies are the “nice flies”, who feed off flowers, don't infect you with any disease and even look somewhat aesthetically pleasing. They are sometimes known as flower flies. Indeed, that is the Swedish name (blomflugor).

This hoverfly volume includes 243 species of the subfamilies Ersalinae and Microdontinae. Rare guests are also covered. The illustrations are in color, and so are the photos. The species presentations are in Swedish, with very short English summaries. The identification keys are bilingual. Even if you don't understand the Swedish language, the hoverfly volumes are excellent collector's items. This could work even on your coffee table! Five stars.

Planet of the ants (and gentle giant hornets)

NN or Nationalnyckeln is a Swedish biological encyclopedia. This is one of the most interesting volumes, unfortunately only available in the Swedish language. It covers all Nordic species of ants, scoliid wasps, potter wasps, paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. In more scientific terms: Formicidae, Scoliidae, and Vespidae (subfamilies Eumeninae, Polistinae and Vespinae).

The species presentations include sections on identification, behavior and range. It also includes information of primary use to taxonomists only. Thus, we learn that Strongylognathus testaceus was first described by Shenck in 1852 in the venerable publication Jahrbücher des Vereins für Naturkunde im Herzogtum Nassau 8:117. I mean, who knew?

Some species stand out…

There is Technomyrmex difficilis, a “tramp ant” originally from the tropics (the type specimen is from Madagascar) but apparently reported from Swedish greenhouses, too. The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is easily one of the most well known ant species in Sweden, and yes, they really do invade people's homes and literally steal candy and sugar! You can take that from me, I'm a veteran from several wars with these creatures. The European Amazon ant (no relation to Jeff Bezos) is a spectacular “slave-making ant”, while the Pharaoh ant is busy colonizing European hospitals (provided they have a central heating system!) and even slips into syringes… There is also the Shining Guest ant, a small species which forms colonies inside anthills of other, larger species.

As for the hornets, I note the absurd fact that the authors of this encyclopedia refer to the European hornet (Vespa crabro) as a “gentle giant”. Ahem, the one's I encountered were anything but gentle, although I'm willing to concede that they were indeed gigantic (even for hornets).

Despite the gentle giant gaffe, I'm nevertheless willing to give this volume, believe it or not, five stars. Welcome to the Planet of the Ants, Swedish satrapy.

Sweden's most wanted moths

“Nationalnyckeln” (NN) is a Swedish biological encyclopedia. Originally, over 100 volumes were projected, but at the time of writing, it's unclear how many will really be published. Since 2005, 17 volumes have seen the light of day. Or at least been rushed to the printers! This one (code DE 1-13) covers the first 13 families of Lepidoptera, considered to be more “primitive” than other butterflies and moths. 12 of the families covered are “micro-moths”, while one (Hepialidae, which includes the Ghost Moth) has traditionally been classified as “macro-moths”. Today, these terms are generally considered somewhat unscientific.

The volume describes all 256 Nordic species of the relevant families, and is one of the largest NN volumes, being 645 pages long. It's also one of the more boring. Let's face it, micro-moths aren't *that* interesting, unless you're a super-nerd extraordinaire. But if you are (provided you also understand Swedish), you'll gonna love this one, since most covered species are illustrated in color (if you can call micro-moths colorful), with additional black-and-white drawings of their genitalia. The keys to identification are bilingual (Swedish-English), and very short English summaries of the species presentations have been appended to the main entries.

My little butterfly collection was actually destroyed (and eaten) by moth larvae, but unfortunately the culprits remain unidentified, although I'm sure they are hiding somewhere in this massive tome! Let me guess. The Common Clothes Moth got tired of eating Swedish textiles? The only interesting section (to me, at any rate) deals with Psychidae. Within this family, many species have bizarre, wingless and parthenogenetic forms. Somehow, I consider the idea of a wingless moth slightly sinister…

But that's me. I will nevertheless award this volume of Nationalnyckeln five stars!

Did the Devil made God do it?

Absolutely disgusting creatures in this one. Myriapods, do I need to say more?! Come and meet the house centipede and the scolopenders! There are apparently 111 (!) species of myriapods in the Nordic countries, all of them covered in this tome. The volume also includes a general introduction to Arthropoda, since “Nationalnyckeln” is eventually supposed to cover all species of this obnoxious phylum (around New Year Day 2050, presumably).

The color green

The first of three volumes covering all species of mosses (yes, mosses) found in the Nordic lands. This one describes 262 species of the following orders: Buxbaumiales, Diphysciales, Timmiales, Encalyptales, Funariales, Bryoxiphiales, Grimmiales, Archidiales, Diacranales. Extremely boring, despite illustrations and photos in color. Mostly the green color, actually. But sure, I was shocked to realize that there are about 1,000 species of moss just in Sweden. I mean, they all look the same to me. But then, due to the super-abundant amount of mosquitoes, gnats, spiders, no-see-ums, no-want-ums, no-patience-with-ums, I usually never take a closer look! I assume these latter critters will be dealt with in future volumes of this mother lode of all cyclopedias, and then some?

Sensu stricto, volume two

The second of three volumes covering all species of mosses (Bryophyta sensu stricto) found in the Nordic countries. Bulk of the text is in Swedish. Many color illustrations and photos of the 292 species covered. Mostly in green! Orders included: Pottiales, Splachnales, Orthotrichales, Hedwigiales, Bryales. Part of 17-volume biological encyclopedia known as Nationalnyckeln. The NN is a work in progress, and nobody knows where it will end up, or even whether it will ever cover Bryophyta sensu latto…

Magnum opus

This must be the most expensive book on sale here. If you have $ 2,800, you can get *your* very own copy of Jakob Jakobsen's classical “An etymological dictionary of the Norn language in Shetland” in a 1985 reprint edition. Or rather the second of two volumes! The original English version was published in 1928-32, while the Danish version is even older.

Norn is an extinct Scandinavian language, once spoken on the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, the Hebrides and Caithness. Until the mid-15th century, the Shetlands and Orkneys were Norwegian territories. The population was descended from “Vikings” who settled there about six centuries earlier. Norn died out at some point during the 18th or 19th centuries. The language strikes me as similar to Icelandic and Faroese. Unsurprisingly, Jakob Jakobsen was from the Faroe Islands. I never heard of him before discovering this product page, but apparently Jakobsen was a kind of “national awakener” on his native islands. When not promoting the Faroese language and culture, he studied the Shetland dialect of Norn and eventually published this magnum opus on the subject.

Today, a small group of enthusiasts have launched a project called Nynorn or New Norn, but it's entirely web-based and even the creators admit that it's of theoretical interest only. Perhaps a crossover with Reconstructionist Asatru might be more interesting?

Yes, *that* Mogens Glistrup

“Historical Dictionary of Denmark” is a straightforward mini-encyclopedia of all things Dane. Quintessentially Danish things such as the Dannebrog, the Folketing or the Dannevirke are of course included (although it seems they forgot the Smörrebröd). So are important characters from Denmark's history: Valdemar Sejr, Grundtvig and, cough cough, Mogens Glistrup. All political parties at some point represented in the Danish, Greenlandish and Faroese parliaments have been included, including Faelles Kurs, Venstresocialisterne and Fólkaflokkurin. And, of course, Inuit Ataqatigiit (more colloquially known as IA). For those more serious-minded, we recommend entries on Sculpture, Literature, Defense, Pietism, Romanticism and Danish relations with Germany. There is also an extensive bibliography. And yes, the dictionary covers Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

A reasonably critical look at buttercups

A review of "Flora Nordica, Vol 2"

This is the second volume of a potentially never-ending work the goal of which is to describe all species of vascular plants found in Scandinavia, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Svalbard. Only two volumes have been published so far by the Bergius Foundation, with grants from various obscure “royal” institutions, and nobody knows how or when the project will continue. That being said, this second volume of what is essentially a scientific reference work was probably greeted with elation by Scandinavian botanists. It includes a number of families of flowery plants not included in Hylander's classical work “Nordisk kärlväxtflora” (1953/1966). Thus, this is the first time the Nordic species of these particular families (including goosefoot, fumewort and buttercup) receive “an even reasonably modern critical treatment”. Imagine that! If fairly advanced scientific analysis of buttercups is your cup of butter, definitely a must have.

Grandmother is Swedish

"Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges Flora och Fauna. Fjärilar: Dagfjärilar. Hesperiidae - Nymphalidae".

Such is the forbidding title of this book, published in Sweden and (unfortunately for foreign readers) with text mostly in Swedish. The book is about butterflies and covers all 140 species found in Scandinavia and Finland. All species are illustrated with large, colour pictures of high quality. This makes "Nationalnyckeln. Dagfjärilar" an excellent collectors' item. At least if you like butterflies, or books about them! Incidentally, even the Monarch is included in this work, since a few specimens of this typical American species have been found in Sweden.

But, as I already pointed out, you won't be able to actually read the book. The identification key is bilingual, and there are very short summaries of each species presentation in English. Still, 99% of the text is in Swedish.

If you absolutely want this work, you might as well contact the publishers directly through their bilingual website, also called Nationalnyckeln, to compare their prices and delivery rates with those of Amazon's sellers. They may be better, worse or similar. I don't know.

"Nationalnyckeln. Dagfjärilar" is part of a series, the ultimate aim of which is to illustrate and describe all species of living organisms in Sweden (!). The whole project will probably take decades to complete. Thankfully, Nationalnyckeln is supported by both the Swedish Parliament and the crown princess Victoria. So far, only seven volumes have been published: Butterflies, Moths (Lasiocampidae - Lymantriidae), Moths (Micropterigidae - Psychidae), Longhorn Beetles, Myriapods, Mosses (Buxbaumia - Leucobryum) and Mosses (Anoectangium - Orthodontium). Next in line are two volumes on Hoverflies.

It's a pity that the English sections aren't longer. These books are so well produced, and so nicely illustrated, that they could definitely have become best sellers abroad, despite their restricted geographical ranges. In a sense, this is the Grandmother of all Reference Works.

But it seems Grandmother is Swedish...

Still, this butterfly volume could be a nice collectors' item, and I would also recommend Moths (Lasiocampidae - Lymantriidae) and Longhorn Beetles for such purposes. The other volumes look more boring.