Björn Bergenholtz
(former alias "Calalp")
Here´s a third list of some small additional information regarding the Etymology of ten various Bird Names that I´ve happened to stumble upon trying to understand various Swedish Bird Names … for your sake (as well as I can?) in English.
As far as I understand the following birds commemorate the following … :
No. 1 – raggiana in …
● Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisea) Paradisaea raggiana D’ALBERTIS 1873 a k a " Raggi's –" or "Count Raggi's Bird-of-paradise"
= the fairly unknown Italian Aristocrat Marquis (Marchese) Francesco Raggi (1807–1887), from Genua, Italy – of the today vanished Noble Family of Raggi.
This bird of paradise was collected by d’Albertis himself on New Guinea and the exact reason why he named it after Marquis Raggi seems to be clouded.
No. 2 – ripponi in …
● the subspecies Lophura nycthemera ripponi SHARPE 1902 a k a (most often in aviculture) "Rippon's Silver Pheasant"
= the fairly unknown British military officer (Lieutenant, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and later Colonel) George (C.?) Rippon (1861–1926), of the British-Indian Army (Indian Staff Corps) 1880–1912, who sent more than 3000 bird skins, from India, to British Museum (today's NHM).
After his retirement in 1812 he settled down in Burma (Myanmar), but returned to England (and his Duty) when World War I started, and retired (again) when it ended. The remaining years of his life he spent in a little cottage outside the coastal village of Lymington, Hampshire.
No. 3 – spillmanni in …
● Spillmann’s Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni STRESEMANN 1937 a k a "Spillman’s Tapaculo"
= the (at least among ornithologist's) fairly unknown Austrian Naturalist; zoologist, paleontologist, archaeologist , as well as geologist, collector, Doctor and Professor Franz Spillmann (1901–1988), a name quite well-known among Ecuadorian or Peruvian naturalist or European paleontologist's.
This Franz Spillman was born the 1st of January 1901 in Scharnstein-Viechtwang, Oberösterreich, Austria. After finishing his studies in Vienna, he followed his Father Alois Spillmann to Ecuador in 1925, and spent the next 17 years in Ecuador and Peru, collecting and excavating, as well as Curator of the natural department at the university Universidad Central de Quito Museo, in Quito, Ecuador and professor of both the university Universidad Nacional Mayor and the Natural history Museum Museo de Historia Natural, in Lima Peru, until 1942 when he returned to Austria. There he was put in charge of the Paleontology collections of the Landesmuseum in Linz, Oberösterreich (1942-1947), during this time (unless apparently also being accused of dodging his Military duty for the Third Reich, but he was cleared) getting a Doctors degree in Vienna 1943 as well as Professor (again) in Lima, Peru (1948-1962), ending his professional career in Landesmuseum Vienna (1964-1966), specializing in fossil Mammals. Franz Spillmann died on the 6th of June 1988 – having, he himself, discovered at least 43 extinct, prehistoric animals; like elephants, dogs and even some long-gone birds.
There seem to be no over-all consensus of how to spell this specie's name today, compare, for example; Avibase with IBC/HBW. Both leaving marks, and confusion, all over, both in books and articles, but most of all on the internet … of how to spell the name of Franz Spillmann.
No. 4 – grinnelli in …
● the prehistoric, fossil species Grinnell’s Crested Eagle Spizaetus grinnelli MILLER 1911 as "Geranoaëtus grinnelli": "This species is named after Mr. Joseph Grinnell, Curator of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, and one of the foremost students of the distribution of American birds."
= the US field biologist and zoologist, evolutionary biologist, curator and Director of Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) in Berkeley, California; Joseph Grinnell (1877–1939). More on him, see this link (here)
No. 5 – bullockii in …
● Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii SWAINSON1827 : ”…the honour of these discoveries to Mr. Bullock and his son”.
= both; the British wealthy Jeweler (at the beginning), successful Museologist, bankrupt showman, indefatigable entrepreneur, zealous traveler, untiring collector (of everything spectacular), hopeful Gold Miner and visionary "Madcap"; William Bullock (circa 1773–1849) & his son; the almost totally forgotten Artist, explorer and collector William Bullock jr. (xxxx-xxxx), who for a couple of years was in charge of his father's Gold Mine in Mexico and thereafter collected Naturalia (among other stuff) in the same country, during most of the 1820's (together with, for example; the German collector Ferdinand Deppe).
Also see earlier Bullock thread on our sister Forum Bird Taxonomy and Nomenclature
No. 6 – burchelli/burchellii in … at least:
● Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis SMITH 1836 a k a "Burchell's Glossy Starling" or "Burchell's Greater Glossy Starling"
● Burchell's Courser Cursorius rufus GOULD 1837
● Burchell's Coucal Centropus (superciliosus) burchellii SWAINSON 1838 a k a "Burchell's White-browed Coucal "
● Burchell's Sandgrouse Pterocles burchelli SCLATER 1922
= the British naturalist, artist, collector and explorer William John Burchell (1781–1863), that started to explore around Cape Town South Africa in 1810, and thereafter on a longer Expedition 1811–1815 to large parts of Southern Africa … and so on.
No. 7 – chiriquensis in …
● Rufous-breasted Quail-dove Geotrygon chiriquensis SCLATER 1856 a k a "Chiriqui Quail-dove"
= either the Province Chiriquí or the vulcano with the same name. Both mentioned (as; ”…the Province Chiquiri” and ”… the volcano of Chiquiri”) in the type description without pointing out either one.
No. 8 – cooperi in …
● Pacific Screech-owl (Scops/Otus) Megascops cooperi RIDGWAY 1878 a k a "Cooper's Screech Owl" with a clear dedication: ”I have named this species at the request of Mr. Zeledon, the collector of the type-specimens, after Mr. Juan Cooper, of Cartago, Costa Rica, a particular friend of his, to whom he is much indebted for many interesting contributions to his collection.”
= the almost totally unknown local collector Juan J. Cooper (xxxx–xxxx), that collected both birds and plants, as well as reptiles and mammals, in Costa Rica – for the same José Zeledon.
No. 9 – crossleyi in …
● Crossley's Ground-thrush (Turdus) Zoothera crossleyi SHARPE 1871 a k a "Crossley's Orange Ground-Thrush" or just "Crossley's Thrush"
● Rufous-headed Ground-roller Atelornis crossleyi SHARPE 1875 a k a "Crossley’s Ground-roller"
= the almost totally unknown British collector and taxidermist Alfred Crossley (probably 1829?–1888?), who collected flowers, snakes and butterflies, etc. etc. on Madagascar during 1869–1870 and in Cameroon 1871. After that he probably went to Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe and Zambia) and thereafter maybe back to Madagascar again …
No. 10 – deckeni in …
● Von der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni CABANIS 1868/1869 (years varies) a k a "Decken's Hornbill"
= the German Noble, explorer and collector Baron Carl Claus von der Decken (1833–1865).
And, just for the fun of it … (attached) a photo of the latter: Baron von der Decken.
Anyone of a different view?
Björn Bergenholtz, Stockholm, Sweden
PS. Don´t hesitate to prove me wrong. Any additional info regarding these etymologies are warmly welcomed! And; if I you feel like adding something, please clearly state which one you are commenting on … just to avoid confusion.
As far as I understand the following birds commemorate the following … :
No. 1 – raggiana in …
● Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisea) Paradisaea raggiana D’ALBERTIS 1873 a k a " Raggi's –" or "Count Raggi's Bird-of-paradise"
= the fairly unknown Italian Aristocrat Marquis (Marchese) Francesco Raggi (1807–1887), from Genua, Italy – of the today vanished Noble Family of Raggi.
This bird of paradise was collected by d’Albertis himself on New Guinea and the exact reason why he named it after Marquis Raggi seems to be clouded.
No. 2 – ripponi in …
● the subspecies Lophura nycthemera ripponi SHARPE 1902 a k a (most often in aviculture) "Rippon's Silver Pheasant"
= the fairly unknown British military officer (Lieutenant, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and later Colonel) George (C.?) Rippon (1861–1926), of the British-Indian Army (Indian Staff Corps) 1880–1912, who sent more than 3000 bird skins, from India, to British Museum (today's NHM).
After his retirement in 1812 he settled down in Burma (Myanmar), but returned to England (and his Duty) when World War I started, and retired (again) when it ended. The remaining years of his life he spent in a little cottage outside the coastal village of Lymington, Hampshire.
No. 3 – spillmanni in …
● Spillmann’s Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni STRESEMANN 1937 a k a "Spillman’s Tapaculo"
= the (at least among ornithologist's) fairly unknown Austrian Naturalist; zoologist, paleontologist, archaeologist , as well as geologist, collector, Doctor and Professor Franz Spillmann (1901–1988), a name quite well-known among Ecuadorian or Peruvian naturalist or European paleontologist's.
This Franz Spillman was born the 1st of January 1901 in Scharnstein-Viechtwang, Oberösterreich, Austria. After finishing his studies in Vienna, he followed his Father Alois Spillmann to Ecuador in 1925, and spent the next 17 years in Ecuador and Peru, collecting and excavating, as well as Curator of the natural department at the university Universidad Central de Quito Museo, in Quito, Ecuador and professor of both the university Universidad Nacional Mayor and the Natural history Museum Museo de Historia Natural, in Lima Peru, until 1942 when he returned to Austria. There he was put in charge of the Paleontology collections of the Landesmuseum in Linz, Oberösterreich (1942-1947), during this time (unless apparently also being accused of dodging his Military duty for the Third Reich, but he was cleared) getting a Doctors degree in Vienna 1943 as well as Professor (again) in Lima, Peru (1948-1962), ending his professional career in Landesmuseum Vienna (1964-1966), specializing in fossil Mammals. Franz Spillmann died on the 6th of June 1988 – having, he himself, discovered at least 43 extinct, prehistoric animals; like elephants, dogs and even some long-gone birds.
There seem to be no over-all consensus of how to spell this specie's name today, compare, for example; Avibase with IBC/HBW. Both leaving marks, and confusion, all over, both in books and articles, but most of all on the internet … of how to spell the name of Franz Spillmann.
No. 4 – grinnelli in …
● the prehistoric, fossil species Grinnell’s Crested Eagle Spizaetus grinnelli MILLER 1911 as "Geranoaëtus grinnelli": "This species is named after Mr. Joseph Grinnell, Curator of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, and one of the foremost students of the distribution of American birds."
= the US field biologist and zoologist, evolutionary biologist, curator and Director of Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) in Berkeley, California; Joseph Grinnell (1877–1939). More on him, see this link (here)
No. 5 – bullockii in …
● Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii SWAINSON1827 : ”…the honour of these discoveries to Mr. Bullock and his son”.
= both; the British wealthy Jeweler (at the beginning), successful Museologist, bankrupt showman, indefatigable entrepreneur, zealous traveler, untiring collector (of everything spectacular), hopeful Gold Miner and visionary "Madcap"; William Bullock (circa 1773–1849) & his son; the almost totally forgotten Artist, explorer and collector William Bullock jr. (xxxx-xxxx), who for a couple of years was in charge of his father's Gold Mine in Mexico and thereafter collected Naturalia (among other stuff) in the same country, during most of the 1820's (together with, for example; the German collector Ferdinand Deppe).
Also see earlier Bullock thread on our sister Forum Bird Taxonomy and Nomenclature
No. 6 – burchelli/burchellii in … at least:
● Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis SMITH 1836 a k a "Burchell's Glossy Starling" or "Burchell's Greater Glossy Starling"
● Burchell's Courser Cursorius rufus GOULD 1837
● Burchell's Coucal Centropus (superciliosus) burchellii SWAINSON 1838 a k a "Burchell's White-browed Coucal "
● Burchell's Sandgrouse Pterocles burchelli SCLATER 1922
= the British naturalist, artist, collector and explorer William John Burchell (1781–1863), that started to explore around Cape Town South Africa in 1810, and thereafter on a longer Expedition 1811–1815 to large parts of Southern Africa … and so on.
No. 7 – chiriquensis in …
● Rufous-breasted Quail-dove Geotrygon chiriquensis SCLATER 1856 a k a "Chiriqui Quail-dove"
= either the Province Chiriquí or the vulcano with the same name. Both mentioned (as; ”…the Province Chiquiri” and ”… the volcano of Chiquiri”) in the type description without pointing out either one.
No. 8 – cooperi in …
● Pacific Screech-owl (Scops/Otus) Megascops cooperi RIDGWAY 1878 a k a "Cooper's Screech Owl" with a clear dedication: ”I have named this species at the request of Mr. Zeledon, the collector of the type-specimens, after Mr. Juan Cooper, of Cartago, Costa Rica, a particular friend of his, to whom he is much indebted for many interesting contributions to his collection.”
= the almost totally unknown local collector Juan J. Cooper (xxxx–xxxx), that collected both birds and plants, as well as reptiles and mammals, in Costa Rica – for the same José Zeledon.
No. 9 – crossleyi in …
● Crossley's Ground-thrush (Turdus) Zoothera crossleyi SHARPE 1871 a k a "Crossley's Orange Ground-Thrush" or just "Crossley's Thrush"
● Rufous-headed Ground-roller Atelornis crossleyi SHARPE 1875 a k a "Crossley’s Ground-roller"
= the almost totally unknown British collector and taxidermist Alfred Crossley (probably 1829?–1888?), who collected flowers, snakes and butterflies, etc. etc. on Madagascar during 1869–1870 and in Cameroon 1871. After that he probably went to Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe and Zambia) and thereafter maybe back to Madagascar again …
No. 10 – deckeni in …
● Von der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni CABANIS 1868/1869 (years varies) a k a "Decken's Hornbill"
= the German Noble, explorer and collector Baron Carl Claus von der Decken (1833–1865).
And, just for the fun of it … (attached) a photo of the latter: Baron von der Decken.
Anyone of a different view?
Björn Bergenholtz, Stockholm, Sweden
PS. Don´t hesitate to prove me wrong. Any additional info regarding these etymologies are warmly welcomed! And; if I you feel like adding something, please clearly state which one you are commenting on … just to avoid confusion.
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"Count Raggi's" seems wrong, as Raggi was indeed a Marchese; it's d'Albertis who was a Conte. But "Raggiana"...? A latinized adjective (raggianus = "Raggian", pertaining to Raggi), inflected as to agree in gender with the feminine genus name Paradisaea, placed as such in apposition to a gender-less English noun? Or do I miss something?
