While researching some scientific names of Hawaiian bird species, I came across the Nihoa Millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris kingi). The key notes that it is dedicated to Capt. James King (1750-1784), explorer in the Pacific with Capt. Cook 1776-1779 (The Key to Scientific Names - Birds of the World). However, when reading the OD (here) it can be seen that the name actually commemorates Lieutenant-Commander Samuel Wilder King (1896-1959) who later became an important figure in American politics (see eg Samuel Wilder King - Wikipedia). Note however that the wiki-page mentions 1886 as birth year. I still have to sort out which year (1886 versus 1896) is correct.
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Acrocephalus familiaris kingi (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter rollie_nl
- Start date
Björn Bergenholtz
(former alias "Calalp")
Makes me wonder ... why (on Earth) would the Key claim a warbler discovered in 1923 (and described the year after) for an Explorer/Mariner who'd been dead for more than a Century (since 1784)?!
One would like to think that there was a reason.
Either way, the origin, of the Key's claim, isn't the (often erroneous) Eponym Dictionary of Birds (2014), as we've seen in quite a few cases (when dealing with subspecies). That particular book has the dedicatee as: "Lieutenant-Commander Samuel Wilder King (1886–1959) ..." (here).
Odd case
However, well spotted, Roland!
/B
One would like to think that there was a reason.
Either way, the origin, of the Key's claim, isn't the (often erroneous) Eponym Dictionary of Birds (2014), as we've seen in quite a few cases (when dealing with subspecies). That particular book has the dedicatee as: "Lieutenant-Commander Samuel Wilder King (1886–1959) ..." (here).
Odd case
However, well spotted, Roland!
/B
Last edited:
James Jobling
Well-known member
Hi Roland. Good work indeed. If you can tell me your full name I will be happy to swap it for "Anon." in the new Key entry.
I just sent you a private message (I hope).
James Jobling
Well-known member
Message received and The Key definition updated. Feel free to contribute more of your findings; many of the eponyms in The Key originate from my Dictionary (published over thirty years ago), and it is only thanks to the aficionados on the Etymology sub-forum that make The Key, ever flexible, so current.
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