The Key to Scientific Names
- megalornis
Gr. μεγας megas, μεγαλη megalē great; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos bird.
- Megalornis
Gr. μεγας megas, μεγαλη megalē great, illustrious; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos bird.
• (Gruidae; syn. Grus † Common Crane G. grus) "MEGALORNIS, G. R. Gray (1841). Grus, Mœhr. (1752). Ardea, L. M. grus, (L.) G. R. Gray. Pl. enl. 769. G. cinerea, Bechst." (G. Gray 1841); "Megalornis Gray, List Gen. Bds. 2nd ed. p. 85, 1841. Type by original designation, Ardea grus Linn." (W. Sclater, 1924, Syst. Av. Aethiop., I, p. 111) (see Grus).
• ‡ (Dinornithidae; syn. Dinornis † North Island Giant Moa D. novaezealandiae) "A communication from Prof. Owen was read, proposing to substitute the name Dinornis* for that of Megalornis, applied to the Great Bird of New Zealand in his paper read at the previous meeting. The change is rendered desirable, to prevent confusion in nomenclature, Mr. G. Gray having previously used the term Megalornis for a genus of Birds in his 'List of the Genera,' &c. * From δεινος, prodigious, and ορνις, bird. This change in the name has been made in the paper referred to whilst passing through the press." (Owen 1843) (see Dinornis).
