The Key to Scientific Names
- Alphagygis
(Laridae; syn. Gygis † Common White Tern G. alba candida) Gr. αλφα alpha first; genus Gygis Wagler, 1832, tern; "ALPHAGYGIS new name for Gygis Wagner 1832, not Gyges Bory de St. Vincent 1825." (Mathews 1914); "Alphagygis Mathews, 1914, Austral Avian Record, II, p. 110. New name for Gygis Wagner, i.e. Wagler, 1832, considered preoccupied by Gyges Bory de St. Vincent, 1825 (Protozoa)." (JAJ 2021).
- GYGIS
(Laridae; Ϯ Common White Tern G. alba candida) Gr. γυγης gugēs mythical water-bird mentioned by Dionysius. "6. Genus. Gygis, Wagl., Seidenschwalbe (Nov. gen.) Rostrum subulatum, apice compressum; digiti et tarsus breves; ungues magni; ptilosis unicolor, candida, sericea; pedes (coerulei) et rostrum bicolores; cauda forficata. — Species libenter arboribus insidet! Species: 1. Gyg. candida. (Sterna candida R. Forst. in manuscr., Gmel.) ... Habitat in insulis Eacowe, Tonga-Tabu, Waihòo, Waitahòo, Otaheitee, Huaheine caet., ubi adpellatur Plerae , (Tera-pòpa in Bolabola); arboribus insidet." (Wagler 1832); "Gygis Wagler, Isis von Oken, 1832, col. 1223. Type, by monotypy, Sterna candida Gmelin." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 348).
Var. Gyges.
Synon. Alphagygis, Clymenius, Leucanous.- Gygisterna
(Laridae; syn. Sterna † Black-naped Tern S. sumatrana) Portmanteau of genera Gygis Wagler, 1832, tern, and Sterna Linnaeus, 1758, tern; "Sterna dougallii ... Though, with a conservatism probably to be regretted, I have classed these birds under Sterna, I am not satisfied that this is the correct course, but under the present circumstances I cannot do otherwise. A monographic study by an up-to-date ornithologist would probably see this bird placed under Thalassæa Kaup, which genus was provided for it alone. With it would probably be accepted Sterna striata, which appears to be strictly congeneric, and also Sterna sumatrana kempi, though the last named is somewhat aberrant, and on account of its proportionately much stronger feet, might be given subgeneric rank under the name GYGISTERNA (nov.), the monotypic type being the above-mentioned Sterna sumatrana kempi Mathews. Many authors may consider Thalassæa to be invalid on account of the prior Thalasseus, and of course these may make use of Gygisterna for this group." (Mathews 1912); "Gygisterna Mathews, Birds Austr. vol. ii. p. 365, Nov. 1st, 1912. Type (by original designation): Sterna sumatrana kempi Mathews." (Mathews, 1928, Syst. Av. Austral., I, p. 141).
