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Apaloderma camerunense delhoyoi (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mike Earp
- Start date
In Ibis 1903, p. 389, Alexander wrote that he named francisci "after Colonel Boyd Francis Alexander", but he did not say who that was. Presumably his son?
Note that the original description is in Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 13, p. 33.
Father not son? See here.
As a newcomer to this forum, I had not seen that thread. Quite interesting.
By the way it seems like nobody remarked on the possible middle name of the ornithologist Boyd Alexander, but if his name had been exactly identical to his father's, he would have called himself Junior in his writings? I have not seen any use of Junior, nor of a middle name, in those writings. See also the obituary by Ogilvie-Grant 1910, Ibis, pp. 716-729. Again, no mention of any middle name, or of Junior.
As many of his British ornithologist colleagues of the time, he usually secured himself authorship of his discoveries (new birds) by quickly publishing short diagnoses in Bull. BOC. Then more "full" descriptions, with accompanying information (like what the new names meant, whom he had named the birds after, etc.), and often with colour plates showing the most interesting new species, etc, appeared in longer papers, typically in Ibis.
Some of his first collections were possibly worked up by someone else (at the BMNH?), and novelties described by them, not sure if I remember correctly, but some of you probably know.
There should be about ten pages about Boyd Alexander in the 1988 book of the Mearns couple, Biographies for Birdwatchers. Unfortunately I do not have it, I only have their later book, The Bird Collectors, in which I found the reference to 1988.
By the way it seems like nobody remarked on the possible middle name of the ornithologist Boyd Alexander, but if his name had been exactly identical to his father's, he would have called himself Junior in his writings? I have not seen any use of Junior, nor of a middle name, in those writings. See also the obituary by Ogilvie-Grant 1910, Ibis, pp. 716-729. Again, no mention of any middle name, or of Junior.
As many of his British ornithologist colleagues of the time, he usually secured himself authorship of his discoveries (new birds) by quickly publishing short diagnoses in Bull. BOC. Then more "full" descriptions, with accompanying information (like what the new names meant, whom he had named the birds after, etc.), and often with colour plates showing the most interesting new species, etc, appeared in longer papers, typically in Ibis.
Some of his first collections were possibly worked up by someone else (at the BMNH?), and novelties described by them, not sure if I remember correctly, but some of you probably know.
There should be about ten pages about Boyd Alexander in the 1988 book of the Mearns couple, Biographies for Birdwatchers. Unfortunately I do not have it, I only have their later book, The Bird Collectors, in which I found the reference to 1988.
James Jobling
Well-known member
Fred,
Apaloderma vittatum francisci was named after Lt.-Col. Boyd Francis Alexander (1834-1917), father of the explorer Capt. Boyd Francis Alexander (see Barbara & Richard Mearns, 2022, Biographies for Birdwatchers, revised & expanded ed., 1, pp. 8-14; and also the free on-line site The Key to Scientific Names, part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World (referred to by Mike #4) – of which, casting modesty to the winds, I am the editor; this resource supercedes my Dictionaries of 1991 and 2010). In days of yore, it was not the custom of the English landed gentry to use Sr. and Jr. to distinguish different generations with the same names.
All serenity. James.
Apaloderma vittatum francisci was named after Lt.-Col. Boyd Francis Alexander (1834-1917), father of the explorer Capt. Boyd Francis Alexander (see Barbara & Richard Mearns, 2022, Biographies for Birdwatchers, revised & expanded ed., 1, pp. 8-14; and also the free on-line site The Key to Scientific Names, part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World (referred to by Mike #4) – of which, casting modesty to the winds, I am the editor; this resource supercedes my Dictionaries of 1991 and 2010). In days of yore, it was not the custom of the English landed gentry to use Sr. and Jr. to distinguish different generations with the same names.
All serenity. James.
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Björn Bergenholtz
(former alias "Calalp")
Hi "FredBras", and, as you're a "New member", welcome to BirdForum.
As you will notice many (or most) ssp. wasn't included in Jobling 2010, but they sure are in today's Key (see below):
= here (alt. here, or here).
The Key is continuously, frequently, constantly updated, both amended and improved (just about every day – thanks to James's assiduity and perseverance).
Enjoy!
Björn
PS. In my notes (and MS) I have the junior guy as nothing but: "Boyd Alexander (1873–1910)"
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l_raty
laurent raty
Dear James,
Many thanks for your kind and interesting reply. It is a great pleasure to hear from you. Your Key is now bookmarked for sustained future use, and it is excellent and fantastic news that it is free again. The meanings of bird names are so interesting.
I need to get the new Mearns book! That was also news to me. Thank you very much for drawing my attention to it.
Perhaps the most interesting part of your message, to me, is the statement about the landed gentry.
My best wishes,
Frederik
Hi Björn (or hejsan!)Hi "FredBras", and, as you're a "New member", welcome to BirdForum.
As you will notice many (or most) ssp. wasn't included in Jobling 2010, but they sure are in today's Key (see below):
= here (alt. here, or here).
The Key is continuously, frequently, constantly updated, both amended and improved (just about every day – thanks to James's assiduity and perseverance).
Enjoy!
Björn
PS. In my notes (and MS) I have the junior guy as nothing but: "Boyd Alexander (1873–1910)"
Many thanks for your friendly welcome to the group. I shall surely enjoy it. In fact, I already did for quite a long time, because these threads and posting turn up again and again in internet searches, e.g. for obscure names and publications. I think that you guys are a tremendous resource of knowledge, and for finding things online. Especially Russian stuff is very difficult!
Until I see the new Mearns book, I'd better not say any more about Boyd A.