(Erasmus) Wilson's Birds (2 Viewers)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Here's an additional missing piece (The End piece), re. ...

• the Generic name Wilsonavis MATHEWS 1912 (here) ... no dedication, no explanation (as usual by Mathews)

This name was also dealt with by Mathews himself, in Birds of Australia, Vol. 8 here (with a Plate here), though, still not a Word about the dedicatee. However, we find a "Mr. F. E. Wilson" acknowledged in the Preface (of Vol.1) here.

In today's Key explained as:

Wilsonavis
(Acanthizidae; syn. Gerygone † Brown Gerygone G. mouki richmondi) Francis Erasmus Wilson (b. 1888) Australian analytical chemist, collector, entomologist, ornithologist; L. avis bird; ...

If he's the true dedicatee, we find him on Ancestry (here) as:

Francis Erasmus Wilson
Birth 25 Nov 1888 - Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
Death 30 Jul 1960 - Malvern, Victoria
...

Also: "... a minute of silence in respect for the memory of Mr. F. Erasmus Wilson, who passed away recently" was held at the General Meeting (of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria), 8th of August, 1960 (here).

Obituary in The Victorian Naturalist, Vol. 77 (No.11), published in March, 1961 (here):

Obituary: Francis Erasmus Wilson
By A. N. BURNS​

It is with deep regret that we record the passing of F. E Wilson on July 30 last year, at the age of seventy-one years. His passing deprives us of yet another of the older naturalists of this State.

“Ras” Wilson, as he was affectionately known to his many friends was indeed a great naturalist, and one whose knowledge covered many branches of natural science. He was an excellent and keen ornithologist, a botanist of no mean ability, especially in connexion with our native plants, and best of all was his very wide knowledge of entomology. The last included ... and onwards.
[...]
Born at Beechworth, Victoria, on November 25, 1888 ...
[...]

To me, it looks like a 'case closed' ...

Francis Erasmus 'Ras' Wilson (1888–1960), ought to be "our guy".

That is, if he truly was/is the intended dedicatee, of course. As always, with a taciturn and self-willed Author, like Mathews, it's hard to know for sure ... (but I haven't found anything pointing against it).

Either way, for even more about Erasmus Wilson see the very long entry in/on FamilySearch (here).

Enjoy!

Björn

PS. James, also compare with wilsoni (in the Key).

 

[l_raty]

That is, if he truly was/is the intended dedicatee, of course. As always, with a taciturn and self-willed Author, like Mathews, it's hard to know for sure ... (but I haven't found anything pointing against it).

FWIW, Richmond 1917 listed the name as "For F. Erasmus Wilson. (Mathews, MS.)"
Richmond corresponded regularly with Mathews.