Björn Bergenholtz
(former alias "Calalp")
Nothing much (and nothing contradictory), just some double-checking, and some confirmations (just to be safe), possibly also with one tiny additional piece, simply stumbled upon while following the developments in the old thread Tanygnathus lucionensis koikei (here), from back in 2020, and its (haphazard) consequence (i.e. the thread) Mr Nakamura's invalid Swift and ditto Jacana (here).
Even if this name has been dealt with even earlier (though only briefly), in the old thread Phonic Hornbills in Tockus … from way back in 2014 (at least it was mentioned, in short, by Laurent, in post #6, here), however, I decided to start a new thread on/in this very topic.
And this time we're looking at ...
Calao as in:
• the generic name Calao BONNATERRE 1791 [here; "49e. Genre", for (the French Common/Vernacular) "Bucéros"]
Also see Bonnaterre, here (in the same volume), with a reference to Linnaeus's Buceros "S. n. 153" which is a reference to Systema naturae, Ed. 12, of 1766, (here), p.153 [even if Linnaeus also had it in his ditto, Edition 10, of 1758 (here, on p.104)]
As well, note that Linnaeus (both in 1766 & 1758) had the following references for the first-mentioned species [Buceros] bicornis, from "China", back to: "Calao. Pet. gaz. 43. t. 28. f. 6. & t. 31. f. 1." (= Petiver, Gazophylacii naturæ, 1702, here, here & here) + "Will. Orn./Ornith. t. 17. f. 1. ..." (= Willughby, Ornithologiæ libri tres, 1676, here).
[The reference to "Edw. av. 2. p. 151. t. 281. f. D." (= Edwards, Gleanings of natural history, 1760, here & here) is/was, of course, only incl. in the 1766 Edition. The two former references, were/are both pre-Linnaean/pre-1758 Works, and as such of no nomenclatural value (today)].
However (and maybe even more important), also note the following part in Petiver's text:
Also, see Hachisuka's far, far later Birds of the Philippine Islands, with notes on the Mammal Fauna, Vol. II (Parts III & IV), published in 1934/35, where we on page xxxii [Though, note; there's no pagination typed on that certain page] find the following text:
So, it's an onomatopoeia!
In any case, it sure made me wonder, which one of today's Hornbills, what certain species, could have been interpreted as sounding "Calao"? The Luzon hornbill Penelopides manillae (a k a Luzon Tarictic Hornbill), sounds like this (earlier a ssp. of Visayan Hornbill P. panini, which sounds like this). To me, neither one sounds much like "calao". In my (somewhat tone-deaf) ears they just seems to squeak and creak. Or do they have another, more articulate sound (more articulate than those calls)?
However, the "horn" on the depicted bird seems a bit too big to fit any of today's species in Penelopides. Which made me think that the suggested onomatopeia possibly could origin from another Hornbill (though still in Bucerotidae), like the Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax (see Avibase here), a k a Philippine Hornbill (i.e.the only other species on Luzon, at least that I know of).
And; I would like to think so!
Also as the latter species (according to the same Avibase) locally is known (in Cebuano) as: "Kalaw" (pronounced kah-lau). And this certain species/Hornbill sounds like this.
Regardless of the similarity (in sound), or its onomatopoetic quality (or not), to me, Bonnaterre's generic Calao does seem to origin from the local name of this particular species – which "horn" is far more in accordance with Mr Camel's old Drawing of the "Avis Cȧlao" (scribbled in pencil, on the Drawing itself).
Either way; enjoy!
And, as always: don't hesitate to prove me lost, or just plainly wrong.
Björn
PS. The OD of today's Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax LINNAEUS 1766, is found on the very same page as Linnaeus's BUCEROS above (in Ed. 12, of 1766), species No. 2.: "Habitat in Moluccis."
PPS. If curious, today's Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, from mainland Asia (from Western and Northern India, down to South-East Asia, incl. Sumatra), sound like this.
/B
*If Mr Camel's text (and Drawing) was included (in one way or the other) in Hachisuka's original edition of Part III (1934), or if it only appeared in the preface part of Vol. II (compiled the year after) is unknown to me.
Even if this name has been dealt with even earlier (though only briefly), in the old thread Phonic Hornbills in Tockus … from way back in 2014 (at least it was mentioned, in short, by Laurent, in post #6, here), however, I decided to start a new thread on/in this very topic.
And this time we're looking at ...
Calao as in:
• the generic name Calao BONNATERRE 1791 [here; "49e. Genre", for (the French Common/Vernacular) "Bucéros"]
Also see Bonnaterre, here (in the same volume), with a reference to Linnaeus's Buceros "S. n. 153" which is a reference to Systema naturae, Ed. 12, of 1766, (here), p.153 [even if Linnaeus also had it in his ditto, Edition 10, of 1758 (here, on p.104)]
As well, note that Linnaeus (both in 1766 & 1758) had the following references for the first-mentioned species [Buceros] bicornis, from "China", back to: "Calao. Pet. gaz. 43. t. 28. f. 6. & t. 31. f. 1." (= Petiver, Gazophylacii naturæ, 1702, here, here & here) + "Will. Orn./Ornith. t. 17. f. 1. ..." (= Willughby, Ornithologiæ libri tres, 1676, here).
[The reference to "Edw. av. 2. p. 151. t. 281. f. D." (= Edwards, Gleanings of natural history, 1760, here & here) is/was, of course, only incl. in the 1766 Edition. The two former references, were/are both pre-Linnaean/pre-1758 Works, and as such of no nomenclatural value (today)].
However (and maybe even more important), also note the following part in Petiver's text:
... which is a reference to this text (all in Latin) "Observationes de Avibus Philippensibus, by "Georgij Josephi Cameli; Communicatæ a Jacobo Petiver. ....", published in May/June 1703 (see No.17, bottom page). From what (little) I can tell, in those days this/the Calao seems to have been called (either): "Calao vel Cagao Indorum" (i.e. Calao or/alt. Cagao in 'India'), ... ending (up in a circle, back to where we started), with a reference to Petiver's Plate 28/XXVIII (above), the Luzon/Philippine Bird.6. Avis PHILIPPENSIS galeâ planâ. Calao Luzonensibus. See an accurate description of this wonderful Bird by Father Camell in the Philosoph. Transact. N. 285. p.1394. 17. ...
Also, see Hachisuka's far, far later Birds of the Philippine Islands, with notes on the Mammal Fauna, Vol. II (Parts III & IV), published in 1934/35, where we on page xxxii [Though, note; there's no pagination typed on that certain page] find the following text:
... WRITTEN BY G. J. CAMEL THE MORAVIAN PRIEST. IN 1703. THE DRAWING REPRESENTS A TYPE OF LUZON HORNBILL, CALLED CALAO IN THE TAGALOG DIALECT, ...
CALAO IS AN ONOMATOPŒIC NAME UNIVERSALLY USED IN MALAY AND ELSEWHERE WHERE LARGE HORNBILLS ARE FOUND. IT WAS EMPLOYED AS A GENERIC TERM, AND ALSO ADOPTED AS THE FRENCH VERNACULAR NAME.
[here (see caption)*]
So, it's an onomatopoeia!
In any case, it sure made me wonder, which one of today's Hornbills, what certain species, could have been interpreted as sounding "Calao"? The Luzon hornbill Penelopides manillae (a k a Luzon Tarictic Hornbill), sounds like this (earlier a ssp. of Visayan Hornbill P. panini, which sounds like this). To me, neither one sounds much like "calao". In my (somewhat tone-deaf) ears they just seems to squeak and creak. Or do they have another, more articulate sound (more articulate than those calls)?
However, the "horn" on the depicted bird seems a bit too big to fit any of today's species in Penelopides. Which made me think that the suggested onomatopeia possibly could origin from another Hornbill (though still in Bucerotidae), like the Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax (see Avibase here), a k a Philippine Hornbill (i.e.the only other species on Luzon, at least that I know of).
And; I would like to think so!
Also as the latter species (according to the same Avibase) locally is known (in Cebuano) as: "Kalaw" (pronounced kah-lau). And this certain species/Hornbill sounds like this.
Regardless of the similarity (in sound), or its onomatopoetic quality (or not), to me, Bonnaterre's generic Calao does seem to origin from the local name of this particular species – which "horn" is far more in accordance with Mr Camel's old Drawing of the "Avis Cȧlao" (scribbled in pencil, on the Drawing itself).
Either way; enjoy!
And, as always: don't hesitate to prove me lost, or just plainly wrong.
Björn
PS. The OD of today's Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax LINNAEUS 1766, is found on the very same page as Linnaeus's BUCEROS above (in Ed. 12, of 1766), species No. 2.: "Habitat in Moluccis."
PPS. If curious, today's Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, from mainland Asia (from Western and Northern India, down to South-East Asia, incl. Sumatra), sound like this.
/B
*If Mr Camel's text (and Drawing) was included (in one way or the other) in Hachisuka's original edition of Part III (1934), or if it only appeared in the preface part of Vol. II (compiled the year after) is unknown to me.
Last edited: