The Key to Scientific Names
- Rhyacornis
(Muscicapidae; syn. Phoenicurus † Plumbeous Water Redstart P. fuliginosus) Gr. ῥυαξ rhuax, ῥυακος rhuakos torrent < ῥεω rheō to flow; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos bird; "505 R. [RHYACORNIS] FULIGINOSA (Vigors). ... I am quite of the same opinion as my friends Dr. Jerdon and Dr. Stoliczka (J.A.S.B. 1868, p. 43,) as to the difference between this species and other Ruticillæ, but I rather doubt whether it should be placed in Chimarrhornis, as proposed by Mr. Hodgson and Dr. Stoliczka. The bill undoubtedly shews some similarity in form, a modification probably connected with aquatic habits of both birds, and the tail is rounded as noticed by Jerdon, but the wings are Ruticilline, and the general characters of the plumage of both sexes — structural character which, viewed in the light of evolution by descent from common forms, I should be inclined to think of more importance than the slight modifications of the bill and tail,—dissociate R. fuliginosa altogether forms [sic] Chimarrhornis. It appears to me, as it did to Dr. Jerdon, to form the type of a distinct subgenus which might be called Rhyacornis;* and which appears to me to have as good claims to separation as Adelura and Chimarrhornis. The characters are: Rhyacornis, subg. nov. Ruticillæ: Rostrum brevius et latius quam Ruticillæ, cauda magis rotundata. Fæmina a mari valde diversa, et rectricibus exterioribus basin-versus albis. ... * From ρυαξ [sic], a stream and ορνις." (Blanford 1872); "Rhyacornis Blanford, 1872, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 41, p. 51. Type, by monotypy, Phoenicura fuliginosa Vigors." (Ripley in Peters, 1964, X, p. 80).
