The Key to Scientific Names
- Bupernis
(Accipitridae; syn. Butastur Ϯ White-eyed Buzzard B. teesa) Portmanteau of genera Buteo de Lacépède, 1799, buzzard, and Pernis Cuvier, 1816, honey buzzard; "POLIORNIS, Kaup, 1844. Butastur, 1844, et Bupernis, 184? Hodgs. Buteopernis, James, 184? Pernopsis, Dubus, 1850. Valeria, Boie, MSS. (Circus teesa, Frankl.)" (G. Gray 1855); "Bupernis 'Hodgs.' Gray, 1855, Cat. Genera Subgen. Birds Br. Mus.: 4 (in synonymy) —type Circus teesa Franklin." (RAOU Checklist Birds Australia, 1975, I, p. 83).
- Buteopernis
(Accipitridae; ?syn. Butastur † White-eyed Buzzard B. teesa) Compound of genera Buteo de Lacépède, 1799, buzzard, and Pernis Cuvier, 1816, honey buzzard; "Buteidæ { Buteopernis, Ictinia, Buteo, Circus, Serpentarius, Bacha, Polyborus." (Jameson, 1840, Calcutta Journal Nat. Hist., I (3), p. 320 (nom. nud.)).
- HENICOPERNIS
(Accipitridae; Ϯ Long-tailed Honey Buzzard H. longicauda) Gr. ἑνικος henikos singular; genus Pernis Cuvier 1816, honey buzzard; "3. ASTUR LONGICAUDA, Less. The collection contains a female specimen of this rare bird, which has hitherto been supposed to belong to the subfamily Accipitrinæ; but the examination of this example proves that it would be more correctly placed in that of Milvinæ, as it possesses all the characters which are essential to that group. It forms part of the genus Pernis; but as it exhibits some slight differences in the wings, &c., from the type of the genus, I have ventured to propose the subgeneric appellation of Henicopernis, instead of adopting Dædalion (Dædalia), as suggested by Prince C. L. Bonaparte, because the latter word was long since given by Savigny as a more classical term for that of Astur." (G. Gray 1859); "Henicopernis G. Gray, 1859, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 153. New name for Daedalion Bonaparte, 1854, not of de Savigny, 1809.” (JAJ 2022).
Synon. Daedalion.- pernis
Gr. περνης pernēs type of hawk, otherwise unidentified, mentioned by Aristotle (cf. genus Pernis Cuvier, 1816, honey buzzard) (syn. Pernis apivorus).
- PERNIS
(Accipitridae; Ϯ European Honey Buzzard P. apivorus) Gr. περνης pernēs type of hawk, otherwise unidentified, mentioned by Aristotle. Hesychius later gave the name as πτερνις pternis and πτερνης pternēs; "LES BONDRÉES. (PERNIS. Cuv.) (2) Ont, avec un bec faible de milan, un caractère très-particulier, en ce que l'intervalle entre l'œil et le bec, qui, dans toute le reste du genre falco, est nu, et garni seulement de quelques poils, se trouve chez elles couvert de plumes bien serrées et coupées en écailles; leurs tarses sont à demi emplumés vers le haut, et réticulés: elles ont du reste la queue égale, les ailes longues, le bec courbé dès sa base, comme tous ceux qui vont suivre. Nous n'en possédons qu'une espèce. La Bondrée commune. (Falco apivorus.) Enl., 420. ... Cet oiseau chasse aux insectes, surtout aux guèpes et aux abeilles. ... (2) Pernis ou pernes, dénomination d'une sorte d'oiseaux de proie, selon Aristote." (Cuvier 1816); "Pernis Cuvier, Règne Animal, 1, 1817 (1816), p. 322. Type, by monotypy, Falco apivorus Linné." (Peters, 1931, I, p. 198).
Var. Pernes, Pernio, Pternis, Pternes.
Synon. Pterochalinus.-
Spernistes (See: SPERMESTES)
SPERMESTES (Estrildidae; Ϯ Bronze Mannikin S. cucullata) Gr. σπερμα sperma, σπερματος spermatos seed < σπειρω speirō to scatter; -εστης -estēs -eater < εδω edō to eat; "BRONZE-HOODED BENGALY. Spermestes cucullata, SWAINS. ... On comparing the structure of this bird with the last [Vidua chalybeata], we find that the base of the under mandible is thicker than that of the upper, and that the hind-toe is as long as the tarsus. We have been told that most of these little Bengalies feed upon the hard seeds of the African millet, and some other of the tall grasses, or rather reeds, so common in the swamps of that country; this fact is in unison with the hardness of their bill, while the structure of their large slender feet and claws is precisely that most adapted to secure a hold or footing on smooth and upright stems." (Swainson 1837 (Nat. Hist. Birds Western Africa, I, 201)); "Spermestes, Sw. Bill short, thick. Feet very large. Toes and claws long and slender. Tail short, even. Chiefly India. S. cucullata. West. Af. i. 201" (Swainson 1837 (Nat. Hist. Classif. Birds, II, 280)); "Spermestes Swainson, 1837, Birds W. Africa, 1, p. 201. Type, by monotypy, Spermestes cucullata Swainson." (Traylor in Peters, 1968, XIV, p. 369).
Var. Spernistes, Spernistis.
Synon. Amauresthes, Pseudospermestes, Stictospermestes.
