Atalotriccus pilaris wilcoxi Griscom, 1924 (1 Viewer)

[Taphrospilus]

Atalotriccus pilaris wilcoxi Griscom, 1924 OD here

I take pleasure in naming this bird in honor of Mr. A. L. Wilcox, president of the Tropical Forest Products Company, our courteous host of several weeks while in Veraguas. The new form was first found near his camp in the forests of the San Lorenzo River.

The Eponym Dictionary of Birds claims:

Wilcox Pale-eyed Pygmy Tyrant ssp. Atalotriccus pilaris wilcoxi Griscom, 1924
A. L. Wilcox (DNF) was an American businessman. He was President of Tropical Forest Products Company, Veraguas, Panama (1924–1928). He was Griscom's (q.v.) host for several weeks during his expedition to to Panama (1924), when the pygmy tyrant holotype was collected.

The Key to Scientific Names

A. L. Wilcox (fl. 1928) US businessman, President of United Fruit Co., Panama 1924-1928 (subsp. Atalotriccus pilaris).

No idea about his first name and life dates yet. But I am confident it will be solved here.

 

[PScofield]

The famous Wilcox in Panama is Robert Wilcox (1877-1951) of Colon, Panama was the president of a large tropical forest products company.

His cousin was

Albert Lord Wilcox (1874-1960)

Birth	13 Feb 1874 Evanston, Cook, Illinois, USA
Marriage	1899
Residence	1920
Death	1960 Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa, USA

Father	Albert Benjamin Wilcox (1841-1914)
Mother	Catharine Ferdon Lord (1848-1916)
Spouse	Fermina Benavides Gonzalez (1902-1965)

I believe he managed a small subsidiary that was logging timber on the San Lorenzo River in the 1920s and 1930s

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Well done Paul, in finding Albert L. Wilcox!

I assume he's "our guy" ...

In today's Key (updated since long, on the 10th of October 2021) we find him as:

wilcoxi
Albert Lord Wilcox (1874-1960) US businessman, President of United Fruit Co., Panama 1924-1928 (subsp. Atalotriccus pilaris).

... but was he truly a "businessman", and (even more crucial) the "President of United Fruit Co., Panama 1924-1928" ... ?

In (for example) Naturalists on the Isthmus of Panama: A Hundred Years of Natural History on the Biological Bridge of the Americas, 2004 (here), we find him (at least I think/hope its him) mentioned as [my blue and bold]:

A. R. Wilcox, president of the Tropical Lumber Company. “The camp,” as Griscom described it, “was in the heart of a heavy primeval forest, ...

Hrrmm ...

However, there's also a "A. L. Wilcox" (here), in line with what's told in the OD, connected Veraguas (and to gold mines) in Panama. Note that his partner there was/is listed as "A. H. Verrill" [could that be the US explorer, and archaeologist Alpheus Hyatt Verrill (1871–1954)? The guy commemorated/included in the Scientific name of "Mimocichla verrillorum" ALLEN 1891*. Or?]

Either way, on p.111 here (from 1932), we find a "Albert L. Wilcox", listed as Honorary Life Member, "... in recognition of distinguished scientific services to the Museum" [the American Museum of Natural History] ... who I think ought to be "our guy"! Or?

I assume establishing the "Wilcox Camp" alt. "Camp Wilcox" (used by at least a few other Naturalist, in various Fields), on the San Lorenzo River, in Veraguas, Panama, could be considered, alt. would be sufficient enough, for the recognition as a "... distinguished scientific service..." to/for the AMNH. Also note that the Author (Auctor) Griscom himself is mentioned in the same publication (on p.30).

Disclaimer, this said without having seen any connection (what-so-ever) between Albert and the Fruit company (as we're told in today's Key).

Also see FamilySearch here:

Albert Lord Wilcox
13 February 1874–1960

... which also incl. a Brief Life History.

And, as always, take it (all) for what it's worth.

It's just some observations (on parts somewhat/seemingly contradictory).

At least to me ...

Björn

---

*The OD of "Mimocichla verrillorum" ALLEN 1891 here. To be continued in the next-following post.

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Re. the detour/sidetrack" Mimocichla verrillorum" ALLEN 1891 (OD in footnote/post #1/above)

In today's Key explained as:

verrillorum
Prof. Addison Emery Verrill (1839-1926) US zoologist, Professor of Zoology, Yale 1864-1907, and his son Alpheus Hyatt Verrill (1871-1954) explorer, archaeologist (syn. Turdus plumbeus albiventris).

But ... after having read the OD, it looks like (at least to me) that there's yet another Son, a third guy, missing in the Key, that (just as well) might/ought to be included [my blue and bold]:

Through the kindness of Professor A. E. Verrill, of Yale College, New Haven, I had recently an opportunity to examine a very complete collection of the land birds of the Island of Dominica, West Indies, mad by Professor Verrill’s sons, Messrs. Alpheus H. and George E. Verrill, who collected in Dominica for several months during 1890.

Among the rarities of the collection are two specimens of a Mimocichla, new to science, ...

Mimocichla verrillorum. sp. nov.​

[...]

Adult male. (Collector’s No. 102, Lasswa, Dominica, April 11, 1890; G. E. and A. H Verrill.) ...

[...]

Who (the forgotten) brother, George E. Verrill, was?

I haven't got a clue.

Just another observation ...

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Quick continuation on the side-track/detour verrillorum ... (for anyone keen on trying to find the missing Son/Brother).

See this long, and detailed text, about Addison Emery Verrill (1839–1926) himself, by Wesley R. Coe, Yale University, which incl. a clue, or clues (on pp.28–29):

In 1865 Professor Verrill married Flora Louisa Smith, a sister of the late Professor Sidney I. Smith, of Yale. Mrs. Verrill died in 1915. Four of their six children survive, the two sons being Major George E. Verrill and Alpheus Hyatt Verrill.

🧩​

Good luck making the trio complete!

/B

PS. And, just for the fun of it, even if totally irrelevant; Verrill Medal recipients (here).

 

[l_raty]

Who (the forgotten) brother, George E. Verrill, was?

George Elliot Verrill, 29 Jul 1866 - 28 Jun 1946.

 

[njlarsen]

In the Birds of the World text for Red-legged Thrush, subspecies Turdus plumbeus albiventris, there is mention of this synonym:

Synonym:
Mimocichla verrillorum Allen, 1891, Auk 8:217.—Dominica (1). Described from male and female syntypes collected by Alpheus Hyatt Verrill (1871–1954) and George Elliott Verrill (1866‒1946) on 11 April 1890, held at Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT (YPM ORN 014867 and YPM ORN 094426). Allen swiftly realised that Sclater’s name had priority and he published a corrective note to this effect (37).

Niels