Cuvier, and "his" many Birds ... (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

In today's Key we find the following entries:

cuvieri
● Léopold Chrêtien Frédéric Dagobert Baron Cuvier (1769-1832) French anatomist, better known by his nom de plume Georges Cuvier (syn. Calidris ferruginea, Dryolimnas, syn. Lophura leucomelanos lineata, syn. Merops albicollis, syn. Pachyramphus viridis, Phaeochroa, syn. Podargus strigoides, subsp. Ramphastos tucanus, syn. Regulus satrapa, Talegalla).
● Frédéric Georges Cuvier (1773-1838) French zoologist, palaeontologist, brother of Baron Cuvier (Falco).

Cuvieria
(Falconidae; syn. Falco † African Hobby F. cuvieri) Frédéric Georges Cuvier (1773-1838) French zoologist, palaeontologist, brother of Baron Cuvier; "According to Mathews (B. Australia, v. 221, 1915) the genotype of Falco is F. subbuteo, a migratory species which occurs as such in South Africa. The resident representative of this species appears to me to be F. cuvieri A. Smith, which has, however, long ago lost the character of the heavy stripes below (being finely striped in immature only) and has the primary formula different; I propose for it the new generic name of CUVIERIA." (A. Roberts 1922); "Cuvieria A. Roberts, 1922, Annals Transvaal Mus., VIII (4), p. 210. Type, by monotypy, Falco cuvieri A. Smith, 1830." (JAJ 2020) (see Confusiana).

cuvierii
Léopold Chrêtien Frédéric Dagobert Baron Cuvier (1769-1832) French anatomist, better known by his nom de plume Georges Cuvier (Campylopterus).

Confusiana
(Falconidae; syn. Falco † African Hobby F. cuvieri) Confucius or Kong Fuzi (551-479BC) Chinese philosopher, teacher and great master (cf. L. confusus confused < confundere to disturb); coined as a replacement name, no doubt linking one great master with another; "Cuvieria, l. c. p. 210 (1922) [nec Lesueur & Petit 1807-1816] benenne ich Confusiana m. Wie jemand noch im Jahre 1922 glauben kann, dass ein Name wie "Cuvieria" nicht praeoccupiert sei, ist allerdings schwer zu verstehen. Auch in seiner "Synoptic Check List" von 1924 figuriert noch "Cuvieria" (Falconidae)" (Strand 1943) (Laurent Raty in litt.); "Confusiana Strand, 1943, Folia Zoologica et Hydrobiologica, 12, p. 73. New name for Cuvieria A. Roberts, 1922, not of Lesueur and Petit, 1807 (Cnidaria)." (JAJ 2018).

Thus, here's look at all those Birds (I think/hope?), and a few extra ... and have patience, bear with me, it's a long and lengthy thread (maybe even too long), with various twists and turns.

However, here we go (in chronological order, for each name) ...

cuvieri as in:
• the invalid (Lineated/Silver) Pheasant "Lophophorus Cuvieri" TEMMINCK 1820 (here, with a Plate on the preceding page):

Le Muséum royal de Paris, seule collection en Europe où se trouve un individu de cette espèce propre au continent de l’Inde, en doit la possession aux soins de MM. Diard et Duvaucel, deux jeunes naturalistes élèves de M. Cuvier, dont j'aurai souvent occasion de parler dans cet ouvrage.

---

• the invalid (White-throated) Bee-eater "Merops Cuvieri" LICHTENSTEIN 1823 (here), from "Senegambia" (?) (West Africa), no dedication, no explanation. Based on Levaillant's Plate 21 (? – Plate unseen by me!)

---

• the invalid (Tawny) Frogmouth "[Podargus] Cuvieri" VIGORS & HORSFIELD 1826/1827 (here):

In honorem principis Zoologorum, hujus generis fundatoris, hec species nominatur.

---

• the long-debated species, or subspecies, Cuvier's (White-throated/Red-billed) Toucan Ramphastos (tucanus) cuvieri WAGLER 1827 (here), as " R. [Ramphastos] Cuvieri", no dedication, no other explanation, at least not as far as I can tell (it's all in Latin – and, as such, beyond my grasp) [earlier a k a Cuviers tukan, in Swedish (hence my interest) today it's just an anonymous ssp. (at least among Swedish ornithologists, as we today follow IOC].

---

• Red-billed Brushturkey Talegalla cuvieri LESSON 1828 (here), as "Talegalla Cuvieri":

Cette espèce, par sa rareté, comme parce qu’elle fait le type d’un genre, a reçu le nom de TALÉGALLE DE CUVIER, talegalla [sic] Cuvieri , Less., Zool. de la Coq., pl. XXXVIII. [= here, as. "(Talegallus Cuvieri, N.)", also 1828 (N. = Nova/New), edit: = nobis (new) according to Laurent, in post #5]

---

• the invalid Wader/Shorebird (Curlew Sandpiper?) "Falcinellus Cuvieri, Nob." BONAPARTE 1838 (here), ... clearly in reference to "Gen. [Genus] 239. FALCINELLUS, Cuv.", a Genus described by (Chevalier/Baron) 'Georges' Cuvier in 1817, here [nec (not) Falcinellus, Vieillot 1816]

---

• White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri PUCHERAN 1845 (here, in text), as "Rallus Cuvieri":

C’est cette espèce que Cuvier et M. Lesson ont designée sous le nom de Rallus gularis. Mais cette dénomination ayant été auparavant appliquée par M. Horsfield au Rallus fuscus, L., nous croyons convenable de lui substituer celle de Rallus Cuvieri.

... which I assume is a reference to Lesson's: "RALE A GORGE BLANCHE; "Rallus gularis, Cuv.", of 1831 (here).

---

On top of this we also have some fossil, alt. sub-fossil, taxa [marked with orange dots • below] (neither one are incl. in today's Key – simply as they are too Old, too Ancient, I guess):

• the extinct (Nuthatch?) "Sitta? Cuvieri, Nob." GERVAIS, "1848–1852" (here). Also commented by Milne-Edwards in 1870 (here, in text), later, in 1908, a k a "Palægithalus cuvieri"

---

• the extinct (Rail?) "Gypsornis Cuvieri, nov. gen. et sp." MILNE-EDWARDS "1869–1871" (here, with the Plate here, fig.1–5):

[In footnote (on p.140)] Voyez Cuvier, Recherches sur les ossements fossiles, 4e édit., t. V, p. 569, pl. CLV, fig. 7

... which I assume is a reference to: Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles [où l'on rétablit les caractères de plusieurs animaux dont les révolutions du globe ont détruit les espèces], published (posthumous) 1834–1836 (in 12 volumes, with several editions onwards), by "Cuvier, Georges (1769–1832)", according to Gallica/BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France).

---

• the extinct (Osprey?) "Palæocircus Cuvieri , nov. gen. et sp." MILNE-EDWARDS "1869–1871" (here)

---

— to be continued —
​

 

[l_raty]

• the invalid (White-throated) Bee-eater "Merops Cuvieri" LICHTENSTEIN 1823 (here), from "Senegambia" (?) (West Africa), no dedication, no explanation. Based on Levaillant's Plate 21 (? – Plate unseen by me!)

This looks like a typo.
The species that matches Lichtenstein's description, and that is indeed called Guêpier Cuvier by Levaillant, is on pl. 9 of his Histoire naturelle des guêpiers :

Histoire naturelle des promerops, et des guêpiers - 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

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

cuvierii (with double ending-ii)
• the invalid (Green-backed) Becard "Psaris Cuvierii" SWAINSON 1821 (here, with a Plate on the preceding page/s), a k a "Cuvier's Psaris":

The genus Psaris was first instituted with great propriety by Cuvier; and before the discovery of the species now made known, was supposed to consist of only one, the Cayenne Shrike of Latham, which with the present bird (named in honour of the first zoologist of the age) is found in Brazil. The figure is ...

The Generic/genus name Psaris CUVIER 1817 = here, coined by "M. le Cher Cuvier" [Monsieur le Chevalier Cuvier], who also had the following 'titles':

Conseiller d'État ordinaire, Secrétaire perpétuel de l’Acadmie des Sciences de l’Institut Royal, Membre des Acadmiés et Sociétés Royales des Sciences de Londres, de Berlin, de Pétersbourg, de Stockholm, d’Edimbourg, de Copenhague, de Gœtiungue, de Turin, de Bavière , des Pays-Bas, etc., etc.

= "Cuvier, Georges, baron, 1769–1832)", according to BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library).

[Note: in today's Key listed below cuvieri (single ending -i), as a synomym of Pachyramphus viridis] ... ?

---

• the invalid (Golden-crowned) Kinglet "Regulus Cuvierii" AUDUBON 1829 (Disclaimer: the OD, in the Folio Edition of Audubon's The Birds of America, 1829 unseen by me, however see the 1839 Edition here (with a Plate on the preceding page), alt. in his Ornithological biography ... (of 1831), here [with the same (or very similar) dedication in both]:

CUVIER’S KINGLET

REGULUS CUVIERII, Aud.

[...]​

I named this pretty and rare species after Baron CUVIER, not merely by way of acknowledgment for the kind attentions which I received at the hands of the celebrated naturalist, but as a homage due by every student of nature to one unrivalled in the knowledge of General Zoology. ...

[Note: in today's Key this Bird is listed below cuvieri (single ending -i), as a synonym of Regulus satrapa] ... ?

This taxon was also, earlier (last year), dealt with in Melanie's thread What is Regulus cuvieri? (here).

---

• the invalid (same? White-throated) Bee-eater "Merops Cuvierii" SMITH 1834 (here), from Senegal, West Africa [independent of Lichtenstein's ditto cuvieri, of 1823, (above)], no dedication, no explanation. Based on Levaillant's Plate No. 9 [here].

[Note: Or should this name/version be considered as nothing but an erroneous subsequent spelling (and if so, as such, excluded from the Key)] ... ?

---

• Scaly-breasted Hummingbird/Sabrewing Campylopterus/Phaeochroa cuvierii DELATTRE & BOURCIER 1846 (here) , as "T. [Trochilus] Cuvierii", a k a Cuvier's Hummingbird. alt. Cuvier's Sabrewing [earlier a k a Cuviers sabelvinge, in Swedish (in line with the latter English name), today we call it fjällig kolibri (meaning Scaled Hummingbird)]

A la mémoire de Cuvier.

[Note; if this is the actual OD, of course (?), that it's written/typed with double ending-ii, and as such it shouldn't be listed below cuvieri, as in today's Key] ... ?

[Note II; Also that both (!?!) Phaeochroa, and Campylopterus, are listed in today's Key (even if below cuvieri resp. cuvierii)]

Do we have, or know of, two different Hummingbird taxa, both by the name cuvieri resp. cuvierii (both seemingly valid today, both in Trochilidae) [alt. in Trochilinae/Phaethornithinae] ... ?

Or is this just a remnant (in the Key) from an earlier taxonomic reshuffle?

As well note that for example Zoonomen has this taxon as: "Phaeochroa cuvierii (Delattre & Bourcier) 1846" with the very same reference to the OD: "Rev.Zool. 9 p.310".]

---

• and the extinct (Fossil) Waterbird (of uncertain affinities) "Protop. [Protopelicanus] Cuvierii" REICHENBACH 1852 (here, alt. here), based on "Cuvier oss. foss. III, 327. t. 73, f. 12. 13." [i.e. the same Work as mentioned above (see Gypsornis Cuvieri)]

---

— to be continued —​

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Also note:
• Falco cuvierii SMITH 1830 (here), as "Falco Cuvierii", no dedication, no explanation .

But why this taxon would be commemorating Cuvier's younger brother [as claimed in today's Key] is beyond my understanding. Baron 'Georges' Cuvier (as of above) was mentioned repeatedly by Andrew Smith. Also note that Baron Cuvier himself as well contributed with articles in the very same Issue of South African quarterly journal (where the OD appeared).

Isn't this simply a (at least a plausible) mix-up between the younger Brother, and the nom de plume (pseudonym) of the far more well-known Baron 'Georges' Cuvier (1769–1832) ... ?

[Note; also this scientific name, if this is the OD of course (?), was/is written/typed with double ending-ii, and as such it shouldn't be listed below cuvieri, contrary to today's Key] ... ?

Zoonomen has it as: "Falco cuvierii Smith, A 1830 S.Afr.Quart.J.(1) 1 no.4 p.392" (which is equal of the link above to the OD), with the following comment:

Falco cuvierii Nomenclature

• Spelled by Peters Checklist 1(2):416 "Falco Cuvieri" (note -i).
• I expect that this follows (without additional examination) Sharpe. Cat.BirdsBrit.Mus. 1874 1:400 where the name is listed with an "-i" ending.
• Sharpe in CBBM 1 may well have been following Gray's Hand-List of Birds I:20 where it is spelled Cuvieri.
• My facsimile collection of Smith's works (Willoughby Society, 1880) shows the name clearly as

FALCO CUVIERII​

• The listing in the Richmond Index spells the name with the -ii ending.
• The single -i spelling seems to be commonly, but not universally, met with. Wolters (1975) in Die Vogelarten der Erde p.78 spells the name Falco cuvierii.
• Similarly, Sherborn in Index Animalium p.1712 (a work that was certainly readily available to the authors of the Peters Checklist) spells the name cuvierii.
• HBW 2:268 lists the name correctly as Falco cuvierii.
• Edward Dickinson informs me (in litt. 2006.08.03) that the first edition of Peters Checklist (1931) uses Falco cuvierii.
• In further additional information due to Bob Dowsett's efforts, it is established that the Willughby Reprint of Sir Andrew Smith's Miscellaneous Ornithological Papers accurately reflects the original spelling (FALCO CUVIERII) of the name. This was established by Margaret Sandwith kindly providing a scan of the original material.

2006.08.02;2006.08.03;2006.08.05;2006.10.15

As well se Laurent's comment (from back in 2018) about the Cuvieria/Confusiana case (here).

---

The same question about the dedicatee, and the spelling of the preceding eponym (above) would also concern the Genus/generic name ...

• Cuvieria ROBERTS 1922 (here)

---

And that's all (at least that I can find) ...

As far as I can tell (with my limited knowledge of French), they all seems to commemorate the same (Baron de) Cuvier (1769–1832) [a k a 'Georges' (de) Cuvier, which was his pseudonym/'pen name'/nom de plume].

Or?

Actually, are there any Bird taxa (at all) commemorating his younger Brother [Frédéric Georges Cuvier (1773–1838) ], as claimed in today's Key ... ?!?

Isn't this just a mix-up due to the 'nom de plume' of the former (Baron de) Cuvier?

Any opinions? Either way ... ?

Björn

(PS. James, sorry for the workload)

---

— to be continued —

... with even more questions!

But that will have to wait until tomorrow.

As of right now, first things first,
let's focus only on the above.

/B​

 

[l_raty]

• Red-billed Brushturkey Talegalla cuvieri LESSON 1828 (here), as "Talegalla Cuvieri":

Cette espèce, par sa rareté, comme parce qu’elle fait le type d’un genre, a reçu le nom de TALÉGALLE DE CUVIER, talegalla [sic] Cuvieri , Less., Zool. de la Coq., pl. XXXVIII. [= here, as. "(Talegallus Cuvieri, N.)", also 1828 (N. = Nova/New)]

(N. generally means nobis rather than nova.)
The Manuel was announced as published on 14 Jun 1828 in Bibliogr. France : Bibliographie de la France.
This plate was in livr. 8 of the Voyage de la Coquille (Férussac's Bulletin : Bulletin universel des sciences et de l'industrie. 2) announced as published on 29 Nov 1828 in Bibliogr. France : Bibliographie de la France
Thus the genus and species were new in the Manuel. (And Talegalla is the correct OS.)

• the invalid Wader/Shorebird (Curlew Sandpiper?) "Falcinellus Cuvieri, Nob." BONAPARTE 1838 (here), ... clearly in reference to "Gen. [Genus] 239. FALCINELLUS, Cuv.", a Genus described by (Chevalier/Baron) 'Georges' Cuvier in 1817, here [nec (not) Falcinellus, Vieillot 1816]

A new name for "Scolopax pygmaeus L.", i.e., Scolopax pygmea Gmelin, based on Pennant's (text, plate) and Latham's "Pygmy" (alt. "Dwarf") "Curlew", which was indeed a Curlew Sandpiper.

• White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri PUCHERAN 1845 (here, in text), as "Rallus Cuvieri":

... which I assume is a reference to Lesson's: "RALE A GORGE BLANCHE; "Rallus gularis, Cuv.", of 1831 (here).

Yes -- a new name for Rallus gularis "Cuv." Lesson 1831, preoccupied by Rallus gularis Horsfield 1821.

• the invalid (Golden-crowned) Kinglet "Regulus Cuvierii" AUDUBON 1829 (Disclaimer: the OD, in the Folio Edition of Audubon's The Birds of America, 1829 unseen by me, however see the 1839 Edition here (with a Plate on the preceding page), alt. in his Ornithological biography ... (of 1831), here [with the same (or very similar) dedication in both]:

The Elephant Folio only had plates (thus no dedication).
The "Cuvier's Regulus" (as it was called there) plate can be seen at : Request Rejected

 

[James Jobling]

Cuvier’s Kinglet/Cuvier’s Wren;
“Plate LV … Plate legend (two variants): 1. No. 11. […] PLATE 55. .. Cuvier’s Wren, Male. REGULUS CUVIERI. … 2. No. 11. […] PLATE LV. Cuvier's Regulus, / REGULUS CUVIERII. / Male. … No bird like this has been seen since, and it is one of the five controversial “Birds of Mystery” in The Birds of America. The 1998 edition of the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Check-list suggests that it may be an aberrant of the Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa, while Audubon himself noted how closely it resembled the Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula.” (Low, 2002, A Guide to Audubon’s Birds of America. A Concordance … pp. 60-61).

 

[l_raty]

Btw :
b. 23 Aug 1769 in Montbéliard, Doubs ; transcription of baptism record (24 Aug 1769) in Léonore : here.
m. (x Anne Marie Loquet du Trazail) 12 pluviôse an XII = 2 Feb 1804 in Paris, 12e Arrondissement; transcription : here, 16-18/57.
d. 13 May 1832 in Paris, 12e arrondissement; transcription : here, 1-3/51.

"Georges" was a bit more than a "nom de plume" for him, I think. "Georges" was apparently originally the name of an elder brother, who died as a young child, and whose name was "transferred" by her to him. This is the name under which he was known in the everyday life, from birth to death.

 

[l_raty]

Any opinions? Either way ... ?

I, for one, agree -- I see no clear reason to treat the falcon as dedicated to Frédéric either.
Cuvieria Roberts is formed from the name of the nominal species Falco cuvierii Smith (which is its type), hence it can only commemorate the same person.

 

[kweetal]

I, for one, agree -- I see no clear reason to treat the falcon as dedicated to Frédéric either.
Cuvieria Roberts is formed from the name of the nominal species Falco cuvierii Smith (which is its type), hence it can only commemorate the same person.

A little off-topic (as I don't think it has any bearing on the present case) but... I always wonder if a differentiation is made between on the one hand, giving an -ii name in honoring, flattering, or commemorating a person, or on the other hand, using such a name to refer to a taxon (or even the fysical animal) described, mentioned, shot, collected, or owned by the individual. They seem to be clearly different naming-causes, but are subsumed into calling them all 'honorific'.

 

[l_raty]

A little off-topic (as I don't think it has any bearing on the present case) but... I always wonder if a differentiation is made between on the one hand, giving an -ii name in honoring, flattering, or commemmrating a person, or on the other hand, using such a name to refer to a taxon (or even the fysical animal) described, mentioned, shot, collected, or owned by the individual. They seem to be clearly different naming-causes, but are subsumed into calling them all 'honorific'.

In terms of names, there is no difference.
I do not perceive eponymous nomina nova, which basically immortalize a failure, by the original author, to provide a non-preoccupied name (as in the case of Rallus cuvieri in the above), as being really "honorific".

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

As Laurent clearly couldn't keep his fingers away (see post #7) ...

Here's the post I was planning for tomorrow:

Which takes us to the actual (originally intended) question, the one sole reason why I started this looooong and lengthy thread ...

And, I sure didn't expect this question (and to be frank, it's quite a surprising one, at least to me), as I believed that such an acknowledged, and famous person, like the well-known Baron (de) Cuvier (1769–1832), Naturalist, Ornithologist, Zoologist, as well as Botanist, Taxonomist, etc., etc., author of Multiple Natural History Works, in various topics (at times also known as the "Founding Father of Paleontology"), ought to be known, in the most minute detail, but apparently not ... leading to the very question itself:

What was the actual full (true) name of Baron 'Georges' (de) Cuvier (1769–1832) ...?!?

Various sources have different (multiple) Given names, for example/s [differences in red]:

Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Dagobert Baron Cuvier (1769–1832) [Pittie, 2023*]

Jean-Léopold-Nicolas-Frédéric, Baron de, (1769–1832), genannt Georges Cuvier [edition humboldt digital, 2022**]

Georges Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert Baron Cuvier (1769-1832) [Dal, 1996***]

Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier, ... dit Georges Cuvier [French Wikipedia]

Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, Baron Cuvier, known as Georges Cuvier [English Wikipedia]

Georges Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert, Baron de Cuvier (eigentlich Jean-Léopold-Nicholas Frédéric Cuvier [German Wikipedia]

Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier, känd som [known as] Georges Cuvier [Swedish Wikipedia]

... and onwards. He has no less than 69 Wiki-pages (!), in various languages (even if most of them are just echoes of each other).



Either way, "our guy" Cuvier was born (on the 23rd of August in 1769) in the (Lutheran) town of Montbéliard, in western France (at that time attached to the duchy of Würrttemberg), Son of "Jean Georges Cuvier" (1715–1795), and Clémentine (née) Chatel (1736–1792), ... ?!? [Parents according to French Wikipedia].

Also note that Pittie (2023)* claims that he was the: "Son of a Swiss officer in the service of France" ... ?

And, that he didn't become a French citizen until 1793.

For an official Birth record (at least that's what I think it is?) see here. Also see the Léonore database (here).

To me (not understanding much French), I simply don't know what to believe. Or what sources to trust?

But after simply looking at that Birth record (for once in pretty neat handwriting) I would say that he was born as:
"Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric" fils du/Son of sieur/Sir/Mr Jean George [sic] Cuvier Lieutenant au ...



How does that add up with today's Key:

Léopold Chrêtien Frédéric Dagobert Baron Cuvier (1769-1832)

Hrmm, ... ?!?

Also note that the Key doesn't include "Jean" as his (very) first Given name (which, to me, would/could explain why he has been called "Georges" is German texts, or German-influenced dittos). Either way, how the names/parts; Chrêtien/Chrétien, and Dagobert, came to be included is (all) unknown to me?

As well noteworthy is the fact that Cuvier later in Life came to add a fancy de to his name, as in 'de Cuvier', which seems to be a result of him being ennobled, which apparently took place in 1819, and as such I assume it ought to belong solely with the title Baron, as in Baron de Cuvier (that is, post-1819, of course).

Though, from the mess above, I now understand why the Swedish National Encyclopedia (Nationalencyklopedien), dodged the question entirely (or simply chickened out) settling for nothing but Georges Cuvier: "... född 23 augusti 1769, död 13 maj 1832, baron, fransk zoolog och paleontolog, ämbetsman" [meaning: "... born 23 August 1769, died 13 May 1832, Baron, French Zoologist and Palaeontologist, Public official"].

Lazy little buggers!

Also note that BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library) lists him as (nothing but): "Cuvier, Georges, baron, 1769-1832", with 125 (!) titles listed, in different languages, editions, translations, both as Author, and/or co-author, etc., etc. (here).

Either way, is there anyone who can entangle this apparent (Great) confusion ...!?!

Grateful for any help on this one (as my limited knowledge of French makes it impossible for me to valuate most of the texts involved).

If so, please enlighten me (and all of us)!

Björn

PS. The same 'Georges' (de) Cuvier, and even some of his relatives, has earlier been mentioned (even if only briefly) here on BirdForum, for example, in the following threads:

• Sorry , not a bird question (here, posts #26–27)​

• Racist bird names (here, post #23, and #25)​

• Coquerel's Coua, "his" Sunbird ... and "his" invalid Spinetail (Swift) (here, post #6)​

• Otis rhaad (here, post #9)​

• The various Mr. Verreaux's and their Birds … (here, post #26)​

... and (of course) as an Author (Auctor) the name (as in his Authorship) "Cuvier" pops up in multiple threads.

/B

---

* Pittie, A., 2023. An author bibliography of South Asian ornithology 1713–2022. Second edition. (Published 10 February 2023): pp. 1–1649.
** edition humboldt digital, hg. v. Ottmar Ette. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin. "Version 8 vom 11.05.2022" (here).
*** Dal, B. 1996. Sveriges zoologiska litteratur: en berättande översikt om svenska zoologer och deras tryckta verk 1483–1920. Orbis Pictus, Kjuge, Sweden.

 

[l_raty]

What was the actual full (true) name of Baron 'Georges' (de) Cuvier (1769–1832)?

For an official name, I think that following official sources (baptism, marriage and death records) makes sense... No ? These (see also my post #7) all seem to agree on "Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier".

(But I admit I don't know the story behind the names Chrétien and Dagobert either. In a biography of Cuvier published in 1833 (both in French and in English), shortly after his death, he was given as "Georges-Léopold-Chrétien-Frédéric-Dagobert" (hyphens and accents omitted in the English version) : the addition of these names is, in any case, not a recent thing. Somewhat intriguingly, in his baptism record [your "Birth record"; I linked (another version of) the same document in post #7], one of his [three!] godfathers appeared as "Christian Frédéric Dagobert, Comte de Valdner [sic ; = Waldner], Lieutenant général des armées du roi très Chrétien" -- this leaves me wondering whether Sarah Bowdich Lee, who wrote this biography, did not mingle up information she gathered from handwritten French papers. She had known Cuvier personally, but presumably only as "Georges"... I have no hard evidence that this is what happened, though.)

On his grave, he is "Georges Cuvier", as he was generally known in life (except in official records).

The addition of a "de" to his name (as in the German Wikipedia) seems fairly odd to me. I see no evidence that this was ever done in France in his lifetime.

 

[James Jobling]

Thanks indeed, Björn and Laurent, for researching and resolving Cuvier’s many names. I took the Léopold Chrêtien Frédéric Dagobert Baron Cuvier version from the Chambers Biographical Dictionary, Centenary (6th) ed., usually a reliable source. Odd that some of the names proceed from one of his godfathers. Did he use Georges because he was jealous of his younger brother? Carry on the good work.

 

[l_raty]

Did he use Georges because he was jealous of his younger brother?

As I wrote above, Cuvier had an elder brother, who died as a young child :

• George [sic] Charles Henri Cuvier, b. 22 Jun 1765 (baptism 23 Jun : here), d. 11 Jul 1767 (burial 13 Jul : here).

It seems that her mother, deeply afflicted by the loss of her first son, started using his name for her second son... And this sticked. (Or, at least, this is what the French Wikipedia suggests.)

(Btw, as I have now found where to look : there is a scan of Cuvier's original baptism record (the Léonore version is a transcription dating from 1907) here.)

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Laurent, thank you for the original baptism record!



And all the other ones ... 🏆

Now it will be far (far) easier to finish my text about Cuvier.

Once again thanks!

Björn

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

James, re. the updated Key entry:

cuvierii
... (Campylopterus, Phaeochroa).

Isn't that the exact same (one, single) taxon?

• Scaly-breasted Hummingbird/Sabrewing Campylopterus/Phaeochroa cuvierii DELATTRE & BOURCIER 1846 (here) , as "T. [Trochilus] Cuvierii", a k a Cuvier's Hummingbird. alt. Cuvier's Sabrewing

See the latter part of post #3 ... and, also, (for what it's worth), as written above (in post #4), in my mind all (every single) taxa mentioned in this thread seems to be aimed at the same guy/Baron, incl. Falco cuvierii (and Cuvieria, of course).

/B

 

[James Jobling]

Aaaaaaaaaggghhh!!! Perhaps now is the time for me to retire gracefully?!

Not yet convinced about Falco cuvierii and Cuvieria.

 

[l_raty]

Not yet convinced about Falco cuvierii and Cuvieria.

In the (multi-part) 1830 paper that included the OD of Falco cuvierii, Andrew Smith used or cited several names that he attributed to Cuvier, i.e.,

• p. 16 : "Peronopterus [sic] Cuvier."
• p. 105 : "Gypaetus barbatus. Cuv."
• p. 118 : "CYMINDIS. Cuvier."; "Buteo Bacha, Cuv. Reg. Animal. 1. p. 324."
• p. 119 : "Nisus, Cuvier."

On p. 381 (Falco cuvierii appeared in the same part, on p. 392), he also referred to him in the following terms:

As both Cuvier and Temmink consider the bird figured by Le Vaillant under the name of "Buse Gantée," as identical with the Falco (Buteo) Lagopus of Linnaeus, I have preferred giving the description of it by the latter author, to furnishing from my own notes what could only be a very imperfect detail.

All of these were certainly references to publications by Georges, not by Frédéric.

Besides, did Frédéric actually publish about birds ? I guess he could be understood as having played a significant role as the main editor of the Levrault Dictionnaire des sciences naturelles, which included many contributions to ornithology; but these contributions were authored by others (Dumont, Desmarest, Lesson). In the late 1820s, he was publishing on mammals. Why exactly should we expect Smith to have named a bird after Frédéric in 1830 ?

 

[James Jobling]

I am convinced. Vale et vale, adieu et au revoir, Fred.