BOW Key (3 Viewers)

[James Jobling]

The Key (see #276): A few more updates, purisms, novelties and synonyms.
—Acanthys, Aplonis,
—Basileornis,
—Chionospiza, Coccauthraustes, Coracina,
—Euphornis,
—Galerita, Geospiza, Graculipica,
—Hypochaera,
—Lalage, Lypornix,
—Mimocitta, Monacha, Muscylva,
—Oreicola, Otocoryx,
—Psaroglossa,
—Serinus, Sitagra, Spinus, Spiza, Stoparola,
—Terpsichore,

 

[l_raty]

Small typo in the following entry in the Key :

cygnoides
L. cygnus swan < Gr. κυκνος kuknos swan; Gr. -οιδης -oidēs resembling; "61 ANAS. ... Cygnoid. australis. 2. A. rostro semicylindrico basi gibbo. Fn. svec. 89. . Anser cygneus guineensis. Raj. av. 138. Will. orn. 275. Anser cynoides. Alb. av. I. p. 89. t. 91. orientalis. β. Anser, rostro semicylindrico atro basi gibbo, minor. Anser chinensis. It. Wgot. 145. Anser moschoviticus. Alb. av. 2. p. 83. t. 91. 92. Habitat in Asia. Varietas orientalis β. ab australi α. parum differt; imprimis quod illa minor." (Linnaeus 1758) (Anser) (see cygnoid).

The Key to Scientific Names - Birds of the World

Species accounts for all the birds of the world.

birdsoftheworld.org

v.1 - Caroli Linnaei...Systema naturae per regna tria naturae - Biodiversity Heritage Library

The Biodiversity Heritage Library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.

www.biodiversitylibrary.org

 

[kweetal]

A small typo in two lemmata of The Key:
lemma Fullerellus: Donaldson-Smith's Sparrow Weaver should be Donaldson Smith's (without hyphen)
lemma Diaphorasma: Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar should be Donaldson Smith's (without hyphen)

 

[l_raty]

Jacamar Schubert 1826 -

While reviewing oldish (pre-1840) German literature (looking for early family-group name introductions), I ran into the following in Schubert 1826 (Allgemeine Naturgeschichte) :

E) Heftzeher, Syndactyli, deren Vorderzehen fast bis zur Spitze vereint sind.
15) Der Glanzvogel, Jacamar, gleicht im Schnabelbau sehr dem Eisvogel, lebt einsam in feuchten Wäldern und Gebüschen, frißt Insekten. Z. B. Galbula viridis aus Südamerica. G. grandis, mit etwas gebognem Schnabel, ist bei Levaillant Jacamerops.

...and again in Schubert 1837 (Die Geschichte der Natur) :

263) Die Familie der Heftzeher, Syndactyli, deren Vorderzehen fast bis zur Spitze vereint sind, enthält die Gattung des Glanzvogels, Jacamar, dieser gleicht im Schnabelbau sehr dem Eisvogel, lebt einsam in feuchten Wildern und Gebüschen, frißt Insekten. Z. B. Galbula viridis aus Südamerica. G. grandis, mit etwas gebognem Schnabel, ist bei Levaillant Jacamerops.

(In the original works, the German text is printed in Fraktur; the words I have italicized are in Latin script.)

Although 'Jacamar' was probably used inadvertently there instead of Galbula (quite plausibly through a corruption of the slightly earlier Goldfuß 1820 (Handbuch der Zoologie) where the genus name was Galbula Brisson and Jacamar was cited as a French name), it was clearly used as a generic name; this type of thing is usually regarded as making the name available.

(Compare to Calao Bonnaterre 1791 which is regarded as available despite being obviously, also, a French name used accidentally in a Latin / scientific name context.)

 

[James Jobling]

Laurent, what an excellent find in Jacamar von Schubert! I am surprised that this name in its simplest form hadn't been used before. Nonetheless, a memorable but, not having been used for nearly two hundred years, a truly forgotten name!!

 

[kweetal]

In lemma 'swynnertoni' (en 'Swynnertonia'), 'Massey' should be 'Massy', I think. Not only in wikpedia but also in the 1938 obituary in Nature it's written like that. I suppose it doesn't really matter much...

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

In lemma 'swynnertoni' (en 'Swynnertonia'), 'Massey' should be 'Massy', I think. Not only in wikpedia but also in the 1938 obituary in Nature it's written like that. I suppose it doesn't really matter much...

Biographical Database of Southern African Science (here) has him as:

Swynnerton, Mr Charles Francis Massy
(ornithology, entomology, botany)
Born: 3 December 1877, Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom.
Died: 8 June 1938, Tanzania.
...
Charles F.M. Swynnerton, naturalist, was the son of Reverend Charles Swynnerton and his wife Maude Massy. He was educated ... and onwards.

Just an observation, for what it's worth (neither he, nor any of "his" Birds are incl. in my MS, nor in my notes) ...

/B

 

[PScofield]

Swynnerton's mother was Maud Massy (1849-1882). The Massy's are an old Protestant Irish family whose lineage dates back to the 16th Century in Limerick and to the Norman conquest. The name is of course French. Baron Massy, of Duntryleague was a title created on 4 August 1776. The Guinness Brewing family and the Massys are very closely related with several intermarriages.

 

[l_raty]

In lemma 'swynnertoni' (en 'Swynnertonia'), 'Massey' should be 'Massy', I think. Not only in wikpedia but also in the 1938 obituary in Nature it's written like that. I suppose it doesn't really matter much...

It was spelled "Massey" in the Ibis obituary.
But it's "Massy" in all the official records I can find. This was the maiden name of his mother.

 

[James Jobling]

In anticipation of Clements 2024 I have edited The Key texts in respect of the following genera newly recognised/upgraded; Heteroscenes, Caliechthrus, Crecopsis, Aphanocrex, Aenigmatolimnas, Anurolimnas, Lophospiza, Aerospiza, Tachyspiza, Astur, Neopsephotus, Suavipsitta, Acrochordopus, Ceblepyris, Dyaphorophyia, Corvinella, Urolestes, Coloeus, Leucophantes, Corypha, Amirafra, Plocealauda, Myopornis, Artomyias, Namibornis, Empidornis, Sigelus, Tychaedon, Dessonornis, Pachyglossa.
I have yet to take action on the genera which have been lumped, perhaps presaging that within the next decade some bright spark will show that they should all be recognised again!

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

In today's Key we find:

caraguata
Etymology not yet found; probably an autochthonym; not in Hellmayr & Conover, 1942, Cat. Birds Americas, I (1); listed as ‘caraguata, Natt.’ by Dubois, 1904, Systema Avium, II, p. 792, as a syn. of Ortalis canicollis.

But ... shouldn’t that be Vol. II of Synopsis avium (Nouveau manuel d'ornithologie), by Alphonse Dubois, 1904, (Brussels, H. Lamertin, in two parts 1902–1904), as of here ...?!?

In this Work we do find “caraguata Natt.” [*] listed on page 792 (in Vol. 2, here), as a synonym, below: (1453) ORTALIDA [sic], No. 9999, CANICOLLIS.

However, re. the etymology itself I cannot help (much). Believe me I've tried, but the more I searched for it, the messier it got.

Good luck solving it!

Björn

---

* Note: Natterer's 'OD' unseen by me. The closest I got was/is in Pelzeln's Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens [Resultate von Johann Natterers Reisen in den Jahren 1817 bis 1835], from "1871" [i.e.1868–1870] here, where we find it as "Penelope Caraguatà" [sic – there written/typed with accent (grave) – a form/variant not included in today's Key], though still as a synonym below, the very same taxon: "Ortalida canicollis" (No.16). As far as I can tell it ought to Origin in: "Natterer Catal. msc. antea"... [whatever that might be – an abbreviation that we've seen, and wondered about, earlier (at least I've done so), found in various earlier/older texts, either with or without the (Latin?) "antea" ending/part (meaning; earlier/previously?)]. Or Is it simply a Catalogue des manuscrits ...? If so, I would think we can consider it as (nothing but) an (all) invalid MS name. Or?

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

• caraguata continuation ...

Either way, bibliography aside, back to the unsolved etymology (and the assumed/alleged autochthonym) … though, let’s swap from the synonym of today’s (Chaco) Chachalaca Ortalis canicollis (Wagler, 1830), into a 'caraguata' (form of) Seedeater!

And, compare with what's told in:
• Areta, J. I., et al. (2011) Unraveling the ecological radiation of the capuchinos: systematics of Dark-throated Seedeater Sporophila ruficollis and description of a new dark-collared form. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 131 (1): 4–23 [here]:

SUMMARY.— The diverse genus Sporophila has a complex systematic history. A new dark-collared form of Sporophila seedeater, herein described on the basis of three adult males, resembles male S. ruficollis but has a dark nape and rufous back. We informally name the new form 'caraguata' for its preferred habitat. ...

If relevant?

If this also is applicable on Natterer's Chachalaca taxa is all unknown to me, but it might be, at least both those Birds were/are of South American origin.

All in all, it might not be an autochthonym at all (for readers less initiated, an autochthonym is a name coined after an indigenous, alt. native/local name – for the Bird/s in question) ...

Who knows?

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

• caraguata continuation ...

Also consider what Vaurie wrote in 1964 (here, on p.5):

We are faced also with the complication that nominate canicollis is based on specimens from Paraguay where two additional forms probably occur, the dark and large pantanalensis in the north near the Mato Grosso, and the pale form discussed above in the extreme northwest. It seems desirable therefore to restrict the type locality of nominate canicollis, and I do so here, to the region of Asunción. Wagler (1830) based his description of canicollis on Azara's number 336, the “Yacú-Caraguatá", but Wagler indicated no locality other than Paraguay. Azara ...

... and compare with Azara's own text (in Spanish) here.

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

• caraguata continuation ... and End (at least on my part)

..., re. the etymology itself I cannot help (much). Believe me I've tried, but the more I searched for it, the messier it got.
...

For some of this "mess" see below (and take this post with 'a grain of salt', or with a solid chunk of sound scepticism), it's posted simply in hope that someone more clever, or knowledgeable (with far better language skills) can make at least something out of it.

Consider it as nothing but (odd) bits and pieces in this puzzle, and if it doesn't make anyone wiser, just disregard (and forget) it all.

🧩 🧩🧩


Either way, one of the texts I stumbled upon was this one (in French):

... on enlève facilement avec les doigts la peau qui recouvre les deux côtés, et il ne reste plus que la filasse que l'on appelle caraguatá.

Also see the following here, from the (Ecuadorian) Amazon Area:

... will have the opportunity to visit Pishku Caraguata (‘Bird Island’) ...

[As far as I can tell Pishku = Bird, in the language Quichua (a k a Kichwa), spoken in large parts of South America; Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, ...

As well compare with Wikipedia's entry for the Mountain Range, and former Village; "Cuchilla de Caraguatá" (here, alt. here), or the "Caraguatá River" (here).

The fog thickens ...

Thus, to me (without understanding neither French, nor Spanish), instead of an autochthonym as suggested in the Key, it might be that 'caraguata' would, or at least could, be a bionym (after its Habitat/Environment/favourite haunts), or even a toponym (after a place/location), of course.

Or ... !?!

For a similar use of the same word (i.e. caraguatà) see; here. Or here, alt. here, ... or elsewhere (they're all just a Google search away).

Also note that, there's as well a Brazilian "Ponta do Caraguetà" mentioned here (on p. 159), and the same word/spelling was/is as well used in the (Italian) phrase: "... rapide di Caraguetà vieno all’ isola di Caraguetà, mentre ..." (here). Or "Arroyo Caraguata, Itapúa" (here, in Paraguay). If of any help?

Also compare with the Paraguayan Fruit/Plant "caraquatà" (guazu) here ...

Well, that’s it. By now ... I'm totally lost.

And, that's as far as I can reach. I'm done.

Good luck finding out the exact origin/explanation ... (even if Natterer’s original piece/part seems pretty hard to find. And even if found, I think it's somewhat unlikely that it would contain much additional info (but, who knows?) ... stranger things have happened.

/B

 

[l_raty]

As Wagler 1830 based Penelope canicollis on "L'Yacou-Caraguata Azar. Voy. n. 336.", shouldn't we expect a "caraguata" cited as a synonym of this name to have the same derivation as the name originally used by Azara...?

According to Azara, "Yacu-Caraguata" was the Guarani name of the species, and of onomatopoetic origin.

Asi le apellidan comunmente los Guaranís, porque su voz es una zaloma fuerte é ingrata que dice Caraguatá, repitiéndolo muchas veces sin intermision.

(= So do the Guaranís commonly call it, because its voice is a strong and unpleasant song that says Caraguatá, repeating it many times without interruption.)

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

... posted simply in hope that someone more clever, or knowledgeable (with far better language skills) can make at least something out of it.
...

Wow, it worked! I didn't post it (all) in vain.

Someone "more clever, or knowledgeable (with far better language skills)" did step in.

Thanks Laurent!

Thus, caraguata was/is (simply) an onomatopoeia!

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Also the Bird itself, today's (Chaco) Chachalaca Ortalis canicollis (Wagler, 1830), seems to agree (here)

 

[James Jobling]

The Key (see #341); not quite a host of recent updates, synonyms and novelties (see also #350).
—Acanthyllis, Acmorhynchus, Aglaiactis, Alectoroenas, Aphalharpactes,
—Calliurus, Calloenas, Chalcopeleia, Chalybura, Cinclorhamphus, Coracopitta, Corythophilus, Crypsirhina, Cyanophaia, Cyclorhis, Cypselurus,
—Diphlogaena, Doryphora, Drepanoptera,
—Emberiza, Eurostopus, Euryocnemis,
—Hapaloderma, Haplopelia, Heleothreptus, Heliactinia, Heliomastes, Hieracidea, Homophaina,
—Ionotreron,
—Jacamar,
—Knathodon,
—Leptoptila, Ligurinus, Ligurnus, Limnophalus, Loxias,
—Micrura, Mythinia,
—Oegotheles, Orescius,
—Palaestra, Phabotreron, Pharomacrus, Phoetornis, Phrethornis, Plectorhamphus, Prionotelus, Proepygia, Propyga, Ptererythrius, Pterythrius, Ptilopus, Ptilurus,
—Rhamphastos, Rhamphiculus, Rhamphocaenus, Rhinopus, Rhopospiza, Rhytidoceros,
—Sisura, Siurus, Sternoenas, Sturnoenas, Sycalis,
—Telesilla, Thimalia, Thryorhina, Timelia, Toccus,
—Xanthomyza, Xenophasia,

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

The etymology of the name Accipiter given by the Key is as follows:

ACCIPITER
(Accipitridae; Ϯ Eurasian Sparrowhawk A. nisus) L. accipiter, accipitris hawk < accipere to grasp (the original meaning was “to understand” rather than “to seize”) (cf. Med. L. accipiter Sparrowhawk; ancipiter Goshawk; "another possible origin is from the Greek aci for 'swift' and pertrum [?πτερον] for 'wing'." (Clark & Davies 2018))

but wouldn't the name come from latin word accipitro which means "to tear"/to shred"?

 

[James Jobling]

Latin accipitro to lacerate, is a very rare word (used only once by Laevius), and is based on accipiter not vice versa.