Mr Webb, and "his" Narrow-tailed Starling ssp. (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Here's yet another Eponym, simply stumbled upon while looking for others ...

webbi as in:
• as in the debated, alt. (by most?) invalid, Narrow-tailed Starling ssp. "Poeoptera lugubris webbi" KEITH 1968 (here).

Today's Key has nothing additional to what's told in the OD itself, simply quoting the ending part (see Acknowledgements):

“The bird is named in honour of the late Cecil Webb of Nairobi who guided me on my first visit to these forests in 1961” (Keith 1968) (syn. Poeoptera lugubris).

However, I think/assume this ought to be possible to expand into the Live animal collector Cecil S. Webb, whose full name (and years) seems to have been Cecil Stanley Webb (1898–1964), or at least ditto (c.1898–1964).

Author of (at least) two Books: A Wanderer in the Wind (subtitled; The Odyssey of an Animal Collector), published by Hutchinson, London, 1953, [alt. the US Edition: The Odyssey of an Animal Collector (by Cecil S. Webb, Superintendent of the Dublin Zoo), Published by Longmans, Green & Co, New York, in 1954], as well as A Hare About the House, published by Hutchinson, London, 1955.

Though, I think the Eponym Dictionary of Birds (2014, here) once again got it wrong (re. his Birth year, that is). If he truly was known as 'Webbie' is completely unknown to me ... of course he might/could have been, or not, who knows? Such a nick-name would fit any Mr Webb ...

Either way, also see the following (far more significant) piece/text, published in the Avicultural Magazine 70 (No. 5): pp. 173-176, written by a close friend of Mr Webb, Geoffrey Vevers, signed/dated: Whipsnade June, 1964 (here, which also incl. a Photo of Mr Webb himself, on the preceding Page):

IN MEMORIAM—CECIL STANLEY WEBB​

The sudden death of Cecil Webb on 10th April, 1964, at his home in Nairobi, Kenya, at the age of sixty-six, has robbed field zoology and aviculture of an outstanding personality. It has also brought a profound sense of personal loss to his many friends who held him in the highest esteem and affection.

His early days were passed in his father’s home in Essex, ... [...] ...they sold their farm and went to South Africa, ... [...] ... It was here that Webb got his first glimpse of the wonderful bird life of South Africa—Hornbills, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Glossy Starlings, ...​

[...]
Webb’s first venture into the animal-collecting business was made in September 1919, when he brought back to England a large number of South African birds which he and his brother had collected in the Transvaal. He disposed of them to the livestock department of a big London store, and being pleased with the success of his venture, cabled his brother to bring home another consignment. He then returned to the Transvaal and applied himself to trapping birds of all kinds, including many rare insectivorous birds such as Burchell’s Crimson-breasted Shrike, Trushes, Subirds, and Lapwings. ... and onwards.

This Death year (as well as the date, and Month) was/is also confirmed in the Kenya Gazette (9th of June 1964) under the heading; IN THE SUPREME COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION" ... CAUSE No. 125 of 1964: "... probate of the will of Cecil Stanley Webb of Nairobi in Kenya, who died at Nairobi ... on the 10th day of April 1964." (here, see page 502).

Well, that's about all I have on him. Thus, take it for what it's worth, but I'm pretty sure he's "our guy" ...

🚦Disclaimer: No official Birth (or Baptism) Record/s seen (from Essex, England?). I'm just doing my Math, as well as trusting other recently published texts (like, for example, this one, see p.9). In any case a Death in 1964 minus "the age of sixty-six", sure doesn't end up in "1895" (as claimed by Beolens et al., in the Eponym Dictionary of Birds).

Either way: enjoy!

It's a long (and hearty) Obituary, well worth reading.

Björn

 

[PScofield]

Eponym is correct. b. 12 Dec 1895, born in Stone, Staffordshire. He may have been vain about his age. His father Thomas Waters Webb was editor and proprietor of the newspaper The Critic, his eldest brother Archibald Bertram Webb (1887–1944) a noted Australian artist.