BOW Key (1 Viewer)

[l_raty]

Hi Björn,

Despite the capital C, I wonder if it is not simply a species in the genus Cacicus (otherwise it would be treated separately in another section)

This entry is the accepted OD of Cassicus chrysonotus, which indeed assumes it was intended to read "C. chrysonotus", and not as a genus-group name.
The taxon is explicitly called a species in the diagnosis. ("Affinis hæc species Cassico icteronoto" means "This species is close to Cassicus icteronotus".)

 

[kweetal]

Despite the capital C, I wonder if it is not simply a species in the genus Cacicus (otherwise it would be treated separately in another section)

See also this entry in Hellmayr's catalogue of the Americas; apparently Hellmayr read that reference as Cassicus chrysonotus Lafresnaye and d'Orbigny (and not as a genus):

v.13:pt.10 (1937) - Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands in Field Museum of Natural History - Biodiversity Heritage Library

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Ok, guys, my error, my misunderstanding ...

Despite the capital C, I wonder if it is not simply a species in the genus Cacicus (otherwise it would be treated separately in another section)

...
The taxon is explicitly called a species in the diagnosis. ("Affinis hæc species Cassico icteronoto" means "This species is close to Cassicus icteronotus".)

Thus, forget about my post #259. Clearly it wasn't a Genus/Generic name.

Thanks for putting me right.

I really, really should try to stay away from Latin ...

Mea culpa!

Björn

 

[James Jobling]

The Key, today's new specific entry:
chaski
“Our migration-tracking, genomic, physiological, and morphological analyses reveal that the northern, high-elevation resident giant hummingbird populations comprise a new species, which we describe here: Patagona chaski sp. nov. Northern Giant Hummingbird … The species name chaski is Quechua for “messenger”, referring to the revered relay runners who transported messages and goods throughout the Inka Empire. … Chaski runners were sure-footed sprinters, capable of speed and endurance on steep slopes, in part due to high-capacity lungs and rigorous aerobic training at high elevations. … The northern giant hummingbird is the dominant avian pollinator species across much of the former Inka territory, and it has a well-honed spatial memory, and extraordinary aerobic capacity and agility; it thus embodies a closely analogous suite of characteristics.” (J. L. Williamson et al. 2024) (syn. Patagona gigas).

 

[James Jobling]

The Key (see #253); This list celebrates my full recovery from obsessive Giebelitis, having just reached p. 824 of vol. III of Giebel’s, Thesaurus Ornithologiae ( 1872-1877). Seemingly full of valuable information, I was astounded by the number of typos and other errors in that work, and hope never to return to it again! —

—Ampelio,
—Anthothreptus,
—Coriophilus,
—Dendrocycna,
—Gabarinus, Gypolis,
—Lalage,
—Ninox, Nothurus,
—Psaroglossa, Ptiloturus, Pygornis,
—Rhopophilus,
—Senex,
—Tetarus, Tupaja,
—Undinamersa, Urophasianus
—Vinidryas

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

I had a quick peek at three of the texts referred to (in the earlier post #199, from February this year)...

Candidates for TheKey, epitheta from Peters' check-list v4 and v5:

[...]

soumagnii v4:77
Tyto soumagnei (Milne-Edwards)
[...]
Heliodilus Soumagnii Grandidier, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris (7), 2, 1878 (séance of 29 Dec., 1877), p. 66. (Madagascar.)
[= here, as: "Heliodilus Soumagnii, nobis."]

[...]

lacondaminei v5:17
Eutoxeres condamini condamini (Bourcier)
[...]
Eutoxeres LaCondaminei Simon, Hist. Nat. Trochil., 1921, p. 24, 263. Emendation.
[= here as: "E. [Eutoxeres] La Condaminei" (Bourc.)]

[...]

nagmiensis v5:259
Tockus erythrorhynchus ngamiensis Roberts
Tockus erythrorhynchus nagmiensis [sic] Roberts, Ann. Transvaal Mus., 15, 1932, p. 25. (Maun, Ngamiland.)
[= here, as: "Tockus erythrorhynchus nagmiensis subsp. nov."]

[...]

Thus, neither one were/are actual typos/Printer's errors.

For whatever it's worth. If relevant ...

/B

 

[James Jobling]

soumagnei
For the purposes of The Key any subsequent spelling of a specific name is a variant (although it is a close-run thing here!)

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

I'm (also) somewhat puzzled, re. the 'new' name eremiae ... (in post #202):

From the 3263 names in Peters' v6 and v7: 18 trivial names not in the Key:

[...]

eremiae v6:220
Mesopicos goertae centralis Reichenow
[...]
Mesopicus goertae eremiae Stoneham, Ibis, 1926, p. 90.

[...]

In today's Key explained as:

eremiae
Gr. ερημια erēmia desert (Erikjan Rijkers in litt.).

However, without having seen the OD I cannot help wondering why a bird from "Bombo, Uganda" (as told here) would deserve/merit a 'Desert' name?

Anyone with access to the OD itself?

Could it maybe be an Eponym, or even a Toponym ... ?

Note, that there's an "Electoral Area" in Uganda called "Eremi" ... (see here, pp. 5064–5065).

Just an observation, question (out of pure curiosity).

/B

 

[James Jobling]

Good point re eremiae, Björn

I have not seen the OD of Mesopicos goertae eremiae Stoneham, 1926 (Ibis not yet available on BHL, and I got rid of all my old copies during a projected house-move!) Can anybody out there help?

 

[kweetal]

Good point re eremiae, Björn

I have not seen the OD of Mesopicos goertae eremiae Stoneham, 1926 (Ibis not yet available on BHL, and I got rid of all my old copies during a projected house-move!) Can anybody out there help?

The Stoneham 1926 paper is in sci-hub.

 

[kweetal]

By the way...
ερημια is desert but perhaps the word is associative enough to also denote hermit, desolate, and similar. Stoneham doesn't give any etymology, I'm afraid.
He does mention in the introduction that the dry season is long (Bombo).

Stoneham, 1926
Field Notes on a Collection of Birds from Uganda.
-----
173. Mesopicus goertae eremiae, subsp. nov. The Lake
Victoria Grey Woodpecker.
Irides brown; feet dusky; bill slate-colour.
Eight specimens collected, all from Bombo. In naming
these birds I have carefully examined all the birds in the
British Museum.
Nearest to M. g. centralis, but differs therefrom in that
the whole underside from the vent to the throat in both
sexes is deep yellow-green, instead of being pale grey with
the abdomen only washed with yellow-green, as in
M. g. centralis. The difference is very noticeable and is
constant throughout the series.
Hab. Wooded country, Bombo (twenty-three miles from
the Victoria Nyanza), kingdom of Uganda.
Types: [male], 15.10.22; [female], 22.6.23. Nos. B. 3701 and
B. 3714 respectively ; both in my collection.
Wings : [male] 107 to 113 mm. ; [female] 105 to 110 mm.
Native Baganda name: “ Koanomoti.”
-----

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Also compare with (for example/s); the Lizard Genus Eremias FITZINGER, 1834 here (in Latin), or "Eremiae benueensis, n. sp." here (in French), in Lacertidae, alt. with the (Australian) Antlion/Lacewing "Protoplectron eremiæ, n. sp" TILLYARD here, (with the Plate here, fig.4), in Myrmeleontidae.

🧩

If of any help/use ... ?

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

One more ...

Genera words from Hellmayr volume 4 (=Part I, number 4, 1949) i.e., biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2758925
[...]
Ibiceter - 4:187 - Ibiceter (sic) spec. Reiser, Denks. Math.-Naturw. Kl. Akad. Wiss.
[...]

... Because of its disparate spelling and treatment in a different family (Accipitridae instead of Falconidae) I have chosen to regard Ibiceter as a new name, altho’ acknowledging that it is probably a lapsus for Ibycter.

James, in Reiser's Liste der Vogelarten, published in Denkschriften der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften — Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe (1926) it's indeed written/typed; "Ibiceter Viell." (and there placed in Falconidae), see here (also used on p.100).

However, Hellmayr (1929) seems to agree it's a lapsus for Ibycter (here).

Vieillot's Ibycter (1816) = here (No.5)

Hopefully of some help/use.

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

And a last one, in this thread (on my part that is, at least for a while) ...

This time I can only contribute with a tiny, minor comment, re. Descourtilz's "Euphonia galotii", as mentioned below:

Erikjan,
An interesting selection, especially as the first two epithets (viride, galotii) together with cyanolaima warrant new entries to The Key. Perhaps one of our aficionados may be able to find out more about Galot.

James (and Erikjan), the only thing I can add [on top of that the dedicatee indeed seems to be: "(Jean) Augustin Galot (1804–1830)", alt. Gâlot, a k a ditto Gallot] is that this eponym (also) was written/typed "galoti" (with single ending-i) on the Plate itself, in the very same volume as the OD (here).

Maybe worth adding to the Key's headings? Or not.

Thus, take it for whatever it's worth (if anything at all) ...

See you (all) elsewhere!

/B

 

[James Jobling]

The Key (see #265): The keen-eyed reader will note that this list of new generic names and adjustments mirrors flirtations with Cat. Birds British Museum, vols. XX, XXIV, XXV, and XXVII, and some regional works also.
—Actiturus, Aex, Agelastus, Aia, Androglossa, Aprosmictus, Apternyx,
—Bradyornis, Brotogeris,
—Caica, Campophaga, Carina, Chauliodes, Chenopsis, Cryptorhina, Cursorius, Cyanauchen, Cyanopsittacus, Cyclopsittacus,
—Erimistura,
—Galactochrysea, Glossopsittacus, Gypopsittacus,
—Haplopeleia, Hirundinapus, Hydrophasis,
—Marica, Marila, Marmonetta, Mergus, Muscarinus, Myopsittacus, Myothera,
—Numidia,
—Oxytelos,
—Pelorynchus, Phoenicoparra, Phyllostrophus, Pionias, Pionopsittacus, Pitta, Platystera, Platystira, Pogoniorhynchus, Poliopsittacus,
—Remiza, Rhea, Rhynchasmus, Rhynchopsittacus, Rhynchotis,
—Taenidiesthes, Tinamus, Trichoglossus, Turdirostris,
—Urochroa,
—Xema,

 

[James Jobling]

The Key (see #275): Further updates and new generic synonyms.
—Adelolarus,
—Blacipus,
—Coccygus, Coccystes,
—Epitelolarus,
—Gavina, Gracalus, Graculus
—Hydranassa,
—Lepterodius, Leucus,
—Morus,
—Pogonia,
—Sticticarbo,
—Touraco,

I should like to thank the stupendous efforts and IT expertise of Erikjan Rijkers in providing the final tranche of his work on the typos, variations and new, mainly specific, names found in Peters Check-list and in Hellmayr et al Cat. Birds Americas. I have acknowledged his input where possible (e.g. Adelopes, eburneus, galotii, guarixa, Ibiceter, iranensis, knysnae, makandakunae), although these represent but a small part of his output - the tip of his literary ice-berg!

 

[kweetal]

Thank you! By my count I submitted 890 words, from the 12,000 checklist pages of Peters and Hellmayr. And comparing the checklists' manuscripts to the key has been a useful name spellingchecker.

PS
re: makandakunae
I have no access to the OD but according to LeCroy in Type Specimens Of Birds In The American Museum Of Natural History Part 12. Passeriformes: Ploceidae, Sturnidae, Buphagidae, Oriolidae, Dicruridae, Callaeidae, Grallinidae, Corcoracidae, Artamidae, Cracticidae, Ptilonorhynchidae, Cnemophilidae, Paradisaeidae, And Corvidae , makandakunae should be mukandakundae. Alas, it still mentions no etymology.
This location seems a likely candidate: Mukandakunda, Zambia

​

 

[PScofield]

mukandakundae is correct.

OD

Anomalospha imberbis mukandakundae, subsp. nov.
Description.-Differs from A. i. imberbis (Cabenis) in being smaller.
In the male the upper side is duller and greener than A. i. imberbis, and the whole of the lower back and upper tail coverts dull greenish, not yellow.
Type.-in my collection. Male adult, collected at Balovale on 10 January, 1944.
Measurements.-Wings : males 67, 69 ; female 63 mm.
Measurements of Type.-Wing 67 ; tail 40 ; culmen 12 mm.
Remarks.-Two males and a female examined.
The Cuckoo Weaver is recorded from this province from the wet short grass plains north of the Boma up to the region of Mukandakunda, the capital of Chief Shinde of the Lunda. It was not common and was shy.
There are no other records of the species from Northern Rhodesia.
A. i. nyassta Benson appears to bear no resemblance to this race and is larger ; wing, males 70-72, female 65 mm

 

[Mike Earp]

Thank you! By my count I submitted 890 words, from the 12,000 checklist pages of Peters and Hellmayr. And comparing the checklists' manuscripts to the key has been a useful name spellingchecker.

PS
re: makandakunae
I have no access to the OD but according to LeCroy in Type Specimens Of Birds In The American Museum Of Natural History Part 12. Passeriformes: Ploceidae, Sturnidae, Buphagidae, Oriolidae, Dicruridae, Callaeidae, Grallinidae, Corcoracidae, Artamidae, Cracticidae, Ptilonorhynchidae, Cnemophilidae, Paradisaeidae, And Corvidae , makandakunae should be mukandakundae. Alas, it still mentions no etymology. This seems a likely candidate:
Mukandakunda, Zambia

​

 

[James Jobling]

In the past, interested and dedicated BirdForum members greatly assisted in finding obscure references and original descriptions/diagnoses (ODs) to add to The Key, making it the go-to site for the etymology of scientific names in ornithology. I was recently surprised to find a few definitions/entries still revealing, “OD not yet seen,” and would appreciate any input regarding the ODs of the following;

cenchroides ● OD not yet seen (Severtzov, 1873, Vertikal. Ghoriz. raspred. Turkestan. Zhivot., pp. 63, 113) (syn. Accipiter badius).

chesnea OD not yet seen (Fuligula chesnea Hodgson, 1844, Gray’s Zool. Miscellany, p. 86, no. 458 (per Salvadori 1895)); perhaps a Nepalese name for the Eurasian Wigeon (?syn. Mareca penelope).

decipiens ● OD not yet seen (Salvadori, 1871, Atti Reale Accademia Scienze Torino, VI, p. 131) (subsp. Leptotila verreauxi).

Gelastes ● (Corvidae; syn. Pica † Eurasian Magpie P. pica) Gr. γελαστης gelastēs laugher < γελαω gelaō to laugh; OD not yet seen; “Gelastes Mäklin, Vetensk. Grund. für Bestamm. af Fogelert. Od Ordnungsf., pp. 106, 107, 1868; new name for Pica Brisson.” (Stuart Baker, 1930, Fauna British India, 2nd ed., Birds, VII, p. 4).

intermedia ● OD not yet seen (G. von Burg, 1921, Herkunft der Vögel und Säugethiere der Alpen, Der Weidmann, 3, no. 46, p. 8) (syn. Periparus ater).

Pyrgitopsis ● (Passeridae; syn. Passer † Southern Grey-headed Sparrow P. diffusus) OD not yet seen. “Pyrgitopsis A. Roberts, 1940, Birds of South Africa, p. 335 (not of Bonaparte, 1853). Type, by monotypy, Pyrgita diffusa A. Smith, 1836.” (JAJ 2023 per Richmond Index card).

Tchangtangia (Pteroclidae; syn. Syrrhaptes † Tibetan Sandgrouse S. tibetanus) Changtang, the wild, sparsely populated high plateau region covering much of northern Tibet; OD not yet seen (Kozlova, 1947, Referaty Nauchno-Issledovatel'skikh Rabot, Otdel. Biologiya Nauk (1945), p. 183); "Tchangtangia Kozlova, 1947 ... new name for Przewalskia Kozlova, preoccupied by Przewalskium Flerov, 1930." (Vaurie 1965).