Gustaf von Carlson, and "his" Birds ... (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Here's some additional info (also for the Key!), as a mere bonus of today's thread Re. the New Zealand Bellbird/korimako (here), this time we're dealing with the guy commemorated in the following Bird taxa ...

carlsonii as in:
• the invalid "[Loxia] Carlsoni" GMELIN 1789 (here), based on "Sparrm. Muſ. Carlſ. 2. n. 41. t. 41. , which clearly was/is a reference to Sparrman's "Loxia Cardinalis", in Museum Carlsonianum, (1787) Vol. 2, No. 41, Tabula/Plate 41 (here resp. here), and, note the following in Sparrman's text [my blue]:

LOXIA Cardinalis, Varietas non criſtata: rubra, mento nigro, uropygio, cauda, alis, pedibuſque fuſcis ... and onwards

carlsonianus as in:
• the invalid "Carlſonian Pacific Parrot.–Pſ. [Psittacus] pacificus Carlſonianus" KERR 1792 (here), with one single reference: "Pſittacus Novae-zealandiae. Muſ. carlſ. ii. t. 28" (1787), which takes us to t. (tabula/Plate) 28 = here.

carlsonii as in:
• the invalid "Le GROS-BEC CARLSONIEN, Coccothraustes Carlsonii" VIEILLOT 1817 (here), in reference to "Loxia cardinalis, var. Lath." (which ought to refer to this text, by Latham, 1790) ...which, considering the latter's last two references (for the synonyms/varieties); "Loxia Carlſoni, Gmel. Syſt. i. p. 847" and "Loxia Cardinalis Muſ. Carlſ. faſc. ii. t.41" (again) takes us to the exact same "Loxia Cardinalis, Varietas non criſtata: ... " as above.


In today's Key explained as:

carlsoni / carlsonianus / carlsonii
Gustaf Carlson (fl. 1786) Swedish naturalist, collector, founder of Museum Carlsonianum, Stockholm (syn. Cardinalis cardinalis, ?syn. Ciridops anna, syn. Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae).

... which I think ought to be expanded/amended into the Swedish statssekreterare (State Secretary/Undersecretary of State), and jurist (as well as Ornithologist) Johan Gustaf von Carlson (1743–1801), who compiled a large Private collection (of various Naturalia, and other 'exotic' things), resulting in Sparrman's Museum Carlsonianum [covering the most spectacular Birds, alt. the most rare, unique, or odd specimens, the "Novas et Selectas Aves" (and certainly the ones unfamiliar to Sparrman himself)].

In short:
Johan Gustaf von Carlson. Born on the 15th of November 1743, at Långbro, in Vårdinge församling (Parish), today in the outskirts of Stockholm, [Son of kammarherre (chamberlain) Johan von Carlsson and Maria Lovisin] ... and he died on the 10th of December 1801, in Stockholm. [All according to Svenskt biografiskt lexikon/Riksarkivet – The Swedish Biographical Dictionary/Swedish National Archive]

Also note that there's no such thing as an actual (physical) Museum, by the name Museum Carlsonianum in Stockholm (and there's never been), which is easy to believe when reading the Key's entry (above). Museum Carlsonianum is a Book, or Books, a literary Work (in four Parts, parts 1786–89, even if intended as five), compiled, on commission, by the Linnaean Disciple Anders Sparrman (1748–1820), based on most (but not all) of the Birds he could find in the private collections of the same Gustaf von Carlson, kept at the latter's estate/mansion Mälby (a k a Melby) in the Province Södermanland, Sweden (not far away from the small town Gnesta, SW of Stockholm).

Compare with the Key entry for:

maelbyensis
Mälby mansion, Södermanland, Sweden ...

The same Mansion (as well as Museum Carlsonianum) was also commented in the dear old thread The mystery of melba (here).

Also note that, the large collection of Gustav von Carlson (the very base of Museum Carlsonianum) later was scattered (after the death of von Carlson), most of the Birds was donated to the collections of Vetenskaps-Akademien [the Swedish Academy of Science], while some were sold to other Swedish (Private) collectors. Finally all of the stuffed/mounted Birds (or at least most of them) ended up at Naturhistoriska riksmuseet [the Swedish (Royal) Museum of Natural History], in Stockholm (which still today keep about 20 of the 'types' – most of them in pretty bad condition).

Either way: Enjoy!

Björn

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

However, this far I haven't been able figure out what Bird/name (described as either carlsoni alt. carlsonii, or carlsonianus), all commemorating the same Gustaf von Carlson, that is (or would/could/might be) synonymous with the "?syn. Ciridops anna", listed in Key (i.e. the today extinct Hawaiian Ula-ai-hawane).

I've compared all the depicted birds on the Plates in Museum Carlsonianum with Photos of Ciridops anna (see for example birdfinding.info here), but I haven't been able to identify any of them, neither one, on any Plate, that might be a depiction/portrait of this taxon.

Anyone who does know?

Or was it (if the Key is correct, of course) maybe described elsewhere (without any direct link/connection to neither Sparrman, nor to Museum Carlsonianum)?

I myself only know of the three names listed above (ending up in/with two of today's taxa). If there's a forth one (alt. a third one, in today's taxonomy) I certainly would like to know of it.

Also, note that the dear old (today defunct) HBW Alive Key (of March 2020) only included two synonymous taxa aimed at this dedicatee ...

carlsoni / carlsonianus / carlsonii
Gustaf Carlson (fl. 1786) Swedish naturalist, collector, founder of Museum Carlsonianum, Stockholm (?syn. Ciridops anna, syn. Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae).

And, it gets even more tricky ... I'm also uncertain about the true Identity of Sparrman's "Loxia Cardinalis" depicted (as No.41) in Museum Carlsonianum, if it truly was equal of today's (American) Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), even if brilliant red (clearly a Male), but with no crest on the top of the head (none what-so-ever), and no black face mask ... hmmm

To me (simply by looking at Plate 41 itself), it looks more like a specimen of today's (Asian) Scarlet Finch Carpodacus sipahi (Hodgson, 1836) ... ?!?

In any case, also note Sparrman's very last remark for: "Loxia Cardinalis, Varietas non criſtata ...":

OBS. Vivam ex Inſulis Indiae occidentalis miſſam obſervavimus et ob habitum Loxia Cardinali ſimillimum non niſi pro ejusdem pullo vel varietate habendam ducimus.

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Just some additional pieces (only confirming the Ornithological interest) of the same Gustaf von Carlson ...

He himself described (for example) "Falco lapponicus" Carlson 1798, in the Publication: Tal, med Utkaſt til Falk-Slägtets, i ſynnerhet de Svenſka Arternes, Indelning och Beſkrifning; [Hållet För KONGL. VETENSKAPS ACADEMIEN Vid PRÆSIDII Nedläggande den 31 jan. 1798]" ... meaning (something like): Speech, with [a] Draft of the Falcon-Genus, especially the Swedish Species, [with their resp.] Classification and Description; [Held for the ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ... on 31 Jan. 1798]


And just for the fun of it, it was the same Gustaf von Carlson who, as a Christmas Gift (from a friend, with a sense of humour), received the, in those days, spectacular, all unknown species; "Fulica Leucoryx", a k a vitvingad sothöna/White-winged Coot (which was just a prank, as it turned out be nothing but an artefact, a (Common) Coot Fulica atra, with mounted wings from a Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta/mutum – never intended to expand his collection. But it clearly, obviously fooled Sparrman, here).

Other (ethnographical) items from the vast collections of Gustaf von Carlson here.

/B

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Also see Sundevall's comments (mostly in Latin), from 1857, here, alt. here, apparently the Type itself is lost. See his conclusions, in Swedish (on pp. 6–7), after having tried to identify all of the Birds/taxa described, and depicted, in Museum Carsonianum (in comparison to the Birds (at that point) kept in the collections om Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet [the Swedish (Royal) Museum of Natural History], in Stockholm, Sweden:

... 58 af typerna till figurerna i SPARRMANS Museum Carsonianum ...voro af mal skadade eller förstörda. Till detta sednare antal höra thy värr! 6 stycken af de 7, som ännu äro mig obekanta, eller just de som nu skulla hafva varit af största värdet att äga för arternas säkra bestämmande, nämligen Mucicapa ochracea (no. 22) ... [...] ... och Loxia cardinalis (41). Lemningarna av dessa och många andra hafva, ... blivit, såsom, fullkomligen oduglige, bortkastade ...

[Meaning (roughly) something like:] ... 58 of the Types for the figures [depicted] in SPARRMANS Museum Carsonianum ... were of Moth damaged or destroyed. As of the latter we unfortunately find 6 of the 7, yet unfamiliar to me, or exactly those which would have been the most significant to Identify, namely Mucicapa ochracea (no. 22) ... [...] ... and Loxia cardinalis (41). The remnants of those, and of many others, have been thrown away, as completely useless, ...

/B

 

[James Jobling]

So, von Carlson did have a collection, or museum (in its widest sense), albeit a private one.

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

From the little I understand of Sundevall's Latin text we also find that Bonaparte, in 1850 (here) listed both; No. 41 (in Museum Carlsonianum) "Loxia cardinalis, Sparrm.", and "L. carlsoni" (as synonyms) of: "C. [Cardinalis] phaeniceus, [sic] Gould, (granadensis! Lafr. 1847.) Bp. ..." [*].

To me it looks like Bonaparte, as well, (somehow) connected, or compared, them with "H a e m a t o s p i z a__s i p a h i" (...ending up with "uti indubie est Loxia fulgens, Less.") ... ?!?

Anyone who understand the exact meaning of those Latin phrases?

/B

---

*Which ought to (even if a typo) be in reference to Bonaparte's "Cardinalis phœniceus, Gould" [i.e. phoeniceus] (here), resp. "Cardinalis granadensis" LAFRESNAY (in Lesson), 1847 (here)

James, also note that phaeniceus is a name/version not listed in today's Key. At least not closer than, as in the (cross-) reference:

phaenicea (See: phoenicea / phoeniceum / phoeniceus)

 

[kweetal]

James, also note that phaeniceus is a name/version not listed in today's Key. At least not closer than, as in the (cross-) reference:

I /did/ try

BOW Key

I am still pondering on a possible form of words for Coryphospiza. Coryphospiza for Coryphaspiza was an 1846 emendation by Agassiz : pt.1-26 (1842-1847) - Nomenclator zoologicus - Biodiversity Heritage Library ° Coryphaspiza Gray Aves 1840. (S. Coryphospiza). [...] * Coryphospiza — (V...

www.birdforum.net

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

So, von Carlson did have a collection, or museum (in its widest sense), albeit a private one.

He certainly did, and maybe so James, but I wouldn't call him "founder of Museum Carlsonianum, Stockholm" (as still told in today's updated Key), his 'Museum' (or 'collection of curios') was never located in Stockholm, but instead at his home, at Mälby (until Gustaf von Carlson died). To me Museum Carlsonianum was simply the Title of Sparrman's inventory (of the very 'best' pieces of the collection).

 

[James Jobling]

C. phaeniceus Gould of Bonaparte, 1850, is a subsequent spelling of Cardinalis phoeniceus “Gould” Bonaparte, 1838. Here Gould’s coinage is manuscript only.

Bonaparte 1850 queries the identity of Loxia cardinalis Sparrman, apparently from the West Indies, said to be similar to C. phaeniceus (i.e. phoeniceus), but crestless and with a red, not white bill (Sparrman’s plate 41 resembles Piranga rubra (Linnaeus, 1758.)) He believes it could be the same as Loxia fulgens of Lesson, but I have yet to find the latter name.

 

[PScofield]

History of New Zealand specimens covered here. In my experience collections in the 18th and early 19th century were generally called "Cabinets" and their published catalogues called "Museums".

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

... He believes it could be the same as Loxia fulgens of Lesson, but I have yet to find the latter name.

Lesson's Loxia fulgens (1831) = here, No.7: "Le GROS-BEC VRAI CARDINAL; Loxia fulgens. ..."
Apparently, in his opinion, (clearly) different from No.6: "Le GROS-BEC CARDINAL; Loxia cardinalis. ..."

Also note, that in Monographie des Loxiens, by Bonaparte & Schlegel, 1850 (here) we find the following text (in French):

... Sa seule espèce, le Sipahi d'HODGSON, que l’on a voulu rapporter, je ne sais trop pourquoi, à Loxia boetanensis de LATHAM, et qui pourrait aussi bien être rapportée à Loxia indica, GM., est certainement Loxia fulgens, LAFR., comme nous venons de la vérifier son type. Il serait intéressant de pouvoir identifier égalment la Loxia carlsoni, DAUDIN, basée sur la figure de SPARRMANN [sic].

Anyone getting any wiser?

The same (or just about the same) French text was/is also included in Jardine's Contributions to Ornithology ... (here).

 

[James Jobling]

Björn, thank you for Loxia fulgens Lesson, 1831, which is crestless and with a white bill! Bonaparte & Schlegel,1850, having examined the type, synonymise Loxia fulgens de La Fresnaye [date?: same as Lesson’s name?] with Haematospiza sipahi, but hadn’t reached a decision on Sparrman’s bird (Loxia carlsoni). I think a quiet darkened room is called for!!

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Thanks James,

Thus, to me, this far, it looks like both "[Loxia] Carlsoni" GMELIN 1789, and "Coccothraustes Carlsonii" VIEILLOT 1817, ends up as synonyms of today's (Asian) Scarlet Finch Carpodacus sipahi (Hodgson, 1836), leaving the (American) Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), out of the picture (all together).

Both commemorating the same (Johan) Gustaf von Carlson (1743–1801), whose Private collections, at Mälby, Södermanland, Sweden (not in Stockholm), was the basis for Sparrman's publication Museum Carlsonianum (in four Parts, 1786–89).

Anyone who thinks otherwise?

However I still cannot understand what taxon/name lead to the Key's " ?syn. Ciridops anna" ... ?

Apparently, there's no Vacancy in any "quiet darkened room" ... not yet.

 

[l_raty]

A couple of quick translations -

Sparrman 1787 :

LOXIA Cardinalis, Varietas non cristata : rubra, mento nigro, uropygio, cauda, alis pedibusque fuscis.
Rostrum subsanguineum.
Capite non cristato Fronteque minime nigra a varietate cristata praecipue differt.
Menti macula parva nigra differt a varietatis cristatae macula magna nigra quae mentum totamque gulam occupat.
Pedibus, Alis, Caudaque Varietati cristatae nec non Loxiae mexicanae Brissonii parum dissimilis, ab hac tamen magnitudine mentique nigredine praecipue
differt.
OBS. Vivam ex Insulis Indiae occidentalis missam observavimus et ob habitum Loxiae Cardinali simillimum non nisi pro ejusdem pullo vel varietate habendam duximus.

= LOXIA Cardinalis, non-crested variety : red, with a black chin, with the rump, tail, wings and feet dark brown.​

Bill reddish.​

Differs mainly from the crested variety by the crestless Head and the minimally black Forehead.​

The small black Chin patch differs from the large black patch of the crested variety, which occupies the chin and the entire throat.​

Feet, Wings, and Tail barely different from the crested Variety, as well as from Brisson's Loxia mexicana, but it differs from the latter principally in size and in the blackness of the chin.​

OBS. We observed one sent alive from the islands of West India and, from its appearance extremely similar to Loxia Cardinalis, we consider it to be regarded either as a young, or as a variety of it.​

​

​

Sundevall 1857:

41. Loxia cardinalis var. non cristata, »ex insulis Indiae occidentalis» — Sp. incerta mihique ignota, si revera crista caret. — L. carlsoni GM. 847 (ex Mus. Carls); — L. cardinalis β LATH. n:о 14. — Cardinalis carlsoni GRAY Gen.; — Cardin. sp. dubia (sub n:о 3) BP. Csp. 501. — Haec sp, ut videtur, a nemine post SPARRMANNIUM visa, quare de ea dubitare liceat. (Icon a Cardinali vulgari differt nigredine lori nulla, gulae minima).

= 41. Loxia cardinalis var. non cristata, "from the islands of West India" — Species uncertain and unknown to me, if it really lacks a crest. — L. Carlsoni GMELIN, 847 (ex Museum Carlsonianum); — L. cardinalis β LATHAM, #14. — Cardinal carlsoni GRAY, Genera of Birds — Cardinalis dubious species (under #3) BONAPARTE, Conspectus 501. — This species, as it seems, has not been by no one after SPARRMAN, wherefore it is permissible to doubt it. (The figure differs from the ordinary Cardinal in the black which is absent on the lores, very limited on the throat).​

​

Bonaparte 1850 :

Quid Loxia cardinalis, Sparrm. (L. carlsoni, Daud. - Cardinalis carlsoni, Gr.) Mus. Carls. t. 41. simillimus C. phaeniceo, at capite laevi, et rostro rubro, nec albo, nisi Haematospiza sipahi, uti indubie est Loxia fulgens, Less.

= What about Loxia cardinalis, Sparrm. (L. carlsoni, Daud. - Cardinalis carlsoni, Gr.), Mus. Carls. t. 41., very similar to C. phaeniceus, but with a bare head, and the bill red, and not white, if it is not Haematospiza sipahi, which undoubtedly is Loxia fulgens, Less.​

​

Bonaparte & Schlegel 1850 :

Malgré son très gros bec différemment conformé et sa couleur écarlate de Pyranga et de Cardinal plutôt qu'à teintes de Loxien, l’excellent genre Haematospiza, BLYTH, ne peut-être éloigné des Becs-croisés et des Corythus, surtout à cause de sa femelle verte à croupion jaune. Sa seule espèce, le Sipahi d’HODGSON, que l’on a voulu rapporter, je ne sais trop pourquoi, à Loxia boetanensis de LATHAM et qui pourrait aussi bien être rapportée à Loxia indica, GM. est certainement Loxia fulgens, LAFR. comme nous venons de le vérifier d’après son type. Il serait intéressant de pouvoir identifier également la Loxia carlsoni, DAUDIN, basée sur la figure de SPARRMANN.

= Despite its very thick, differently shaped bill and its scarlet colour of Pyranga and Cardinal, rather than with Loxian hues, the excellent genus Haematospiza, BLYTH, cannot be placed away from the Crossbills and Corythus, prticularly because of its green, yellow-rumped female. Its only species, the Sipahi of HODGSON, which some have wished to refer, I don't really know why, to LATHAM's Loxia boetanensis and which could as easily also be referred to Loxia indica, GM. is certainly Loxia fulgens, LAFR. as we have just verified based on its type. It would be interesting to be able to identify as well the Loxia carlsoni, DAUDIN, based on SPARRMANN's figure.​

-------

Anyone who thinks otherwise?

Sparrman insisted on the presence of black on the chin (even if less than in what he called the crested variety of that species); Carpodacus sipahi (Hodgson, 1836) lacks black on the chin entirely.
A songbird may also be more likely to have been sent alive to Europe in the 18th C from America, rather than from Asia; the fact that the bird was alive may also make it less likely that the info about its origin got scrambled.
Crestless cardinals are not unheard of, e.g. : https://whatbirdsareinmybackyard.co...09/Northern-Cardinal-by-joshua-j-cotten-1.jpg

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Thanks Laurent,
but are we sure that Sparrman (truly) had seen the depicted specimen (itself) alive?
And not another one, of what he assumed was the same species?

Compare Sparrman's Plate, with the one by Gould (both below) ...





Hrmm ...

 

[l_raty]

but are we sure that Sparrman (truly) had seen the depicted specimen (itself) alive?

Well, I'm rather sure that this is what he claims.
The depicted bird has some black on the chin, even if it is admittedly very limited. In the description (6 sentences), he manages to say that there is black on the chin not one, or even two, but three times.

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Either way, what about the reason for the Key's: "?syn. Ciridops anna" ... ?

Anyone who knows?

 

[JustinJansen]

I do not understand the link with Ciridops anna by Sanford Dole (described and just found in 1878, years after Carlson died, and only five birds are know, 2 AMNH, 1 NHMUK, 1 Bishhop Museum and Cambridge, USA)? The wife of Dole Anna was named after... or do I miss something?

 

[Taphrospilus]

This means that there might be a synonym to Ciridops anna and the synonym should contain carlsonianus, carlsonii or carlsoni. And Björn would like to know who is the author and where is this name published.

 

[PScofield]

OD here. Pg 49. Honoree not given, but should be:

Anna Prentice Dole neé Cate 1841–1918

I can't find who suggested that any name honouring Carlson was a synonym of Ciridops anna. It certainly isn't mentioned in Olsons comprehensive summary of the species here.