The Key to Scientific Names
- dinemelli
Denehmelli or Dinómali, a frontier post between Argobba and Shoa, Abyssinia / Ethiopia (Björn Bergenholtz and Mark Brown in litt.). All previous authorities have been mistaken in believing this name to be an eponym (Dinemellia).
- DINEMELLIA
(Ploceidae; Ϯ White-headed Buffalo Weaver D. dinemelli) Specific name Textor dinemelli Rüppell, 1845; "LXX. Dinemellia RCHB. Dinemellia. Schnabel dick kegelförmig. Kleid von den Verwandten auffällig abweichend. Die näheren Kennzeichen, sowie die Lebensweise noch nicht bekannt. 327—28. D. leucocephala (Textor leucocephalus RÜPPEL Mus. Senkbg. Uebers. d. V. N.-O.-Afr. 72. t. 20.) RCHB. ... Textor Dinemelli HORSF., GRAY gen. t. 87. f. 1., unsere untere Figur. RÜPPEL deutet darauf hin, dass noch zu beobachten ist, ob dieser Vogel so wie Alectornis mit Vieh gesellig lebt und auch ihm die auffallende Entwickelung der Ruthe zukommt. — Ostafrika, Schoa: HARRIS." (Reichenbach 1863); "Dinemellia Reichenbach, 1863, Die Singvögel, p. 88. Type, by tautonymy, Textor dinemelli Horsfield, i.e. Rüppell, 1845 (ex Horsfield MS)." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Dienemellia.
Synon. Limoneres.- lamellicollis
L. lamella small thin plate of metal < lamina thin piece of metal, thin blade; Mod. L. collis -necked, -throated < L. collum neck.
- lamelligerus
L. lamella small thin plate of metal < lamina thin piece of metal, thin blade; -gera -carrying < gerere to carry.
- lamellipennis
L. lamella small thin plate of metal < lamina thin piece of metal, thin blade; -pennis -winged < penna feather.
- lamellirostris
L. lamella small thin plate of metal < lamina thin piece of metal, thin blade; -rostris -billed < rostrum beak.
- melli / melliana / mellianus
Dr Rudolf Emil Mell (1878-1970) German entomologist, collector, educationalist in China (syn. Aviceda leuphotes, subsp. Chloropsis hardwickii, syn. Coracina macei rexpineti, subsp. Garrulax monileger, subsp. Geokichla citrina, Oriolus, syn. Pitta nympha, syn. Tyto longimembris).
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Melliphaga (See: MELIPHAGA)
MELIPHAGA (Meliphagidae; Ϯ Lewin's Honeyeater M. lewinii) Gr. μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey; -φαγος -phago -eating < φαγειν phagein to eat; "OR. PICÆ. GEN. MELIPHAGA. CHARACTER OF THE GENUS. BEAK arched, stout, and almost three-sided, Pl. 3. b. NOSTRILS long, and covered with a membrane. TONGUE long, and split into a number of hairs at the end, Pl. 3. a. FEET formed for climbing, the outer toe joined to the middle one, as far as the first joint. The birds of this genus feed on the nectarine juice, concentrated in all the flowers of this country, which they extract with the bunch of hair at the end of their long tongues. Meliphaga Phrygia. Pl. 3. WARTY-FACED HONEYSUCKER. ... Meliphaga Cyanops. Pl. 4. BLUE-CHEEKED HONEYSUCKER. ... Meliphaga Chrysotis. Pl. 5. YELLOW-EARED HONEYSUCKER. ... Meliphaga Chrysocephala. Pl. 6. GOLDEN-CROWNED HONEYSUCKER." (Lewin 1808); "Meliphaga Lewin, 1808, Birds New Holland, p. 4 and pl. 5. Type, by subsequent designation (G. R. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, ed. 1, p. 15), Meliphaga chrysotis Lewin = Ptilotis lewinii Swainson." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 364).
Var. Melliphaga, Miliphaga, Chelliphaga.
Synon. Dorothina, Ptilotina, Ptilotis.
● (Meliphagidae; syn. Anthochaera Ϯ Regent Honeyeater A. phrygia) "MELIPHAGA b, Lewin, (1808). Zanthomyza, Swains. (1837). Merops, Lath. Philemon, Vieill. Anthochæra, V. and H. Xanthomyza, Strickl. (1841). Philedon, 3rd div. Cuv. (1817). 2nd div. Cuv. (1829). M. phrygia, (Lath.) Lew. B. of N. H., pl. 3 ... b On examining Lewin's work for the purpose of ascertaining the proper type of his genus Meliphaga, I unfortunately, for my former edition, looked at the one published in 1822, where he placed his short characters on the page in which he described his M. chrysotis, so that I considered that species to be the type. But I have since consulted the original edition of 1808, where I find that he established the genus on his M. phrygia, as he not only gave generic characters on the same page with the specific description of that bird, but also figured the bill and tongue of that species in illustration of his genus. It must therefore, if we "ought always to retain the original name for that part of the old genus which was considered typical by its author," be kept as the type of the genus Meliphaga of Lewin, as established in 1808. The C. novæ hollandiæ, as proposed by Vigors and Dr. Horsfield for the type of Meliphaga, is not even noticed by Lewin in his work, and cannot therefore on any principle be regarded as the type of his genus" (G. Gray 1841); "Meliphaga G. R. Gray, 1841, List Gen. Birds, ed. 2, p. 20. Type, by original designation, Merops phrygius Shaw. Not Meliphaga Lewin, 1808." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 436).
● (Meliphagidae; syn. Phylidonyris Ϯ New Holland Honeyeater P. novaehollandiae) "Genus. MELIPHAGA*. Lewin et Auct. ... *The species of the family of Meliphagidæ appear very numerous, and every arrival from New Holland and the Australian islands brings an addition to their number. At the same time the species themselves are but ill-defined; and in the present imperfect state of our knowledge , and while information is daily increasing, we consider it unadviseable to attempt more than a rude sketch of this interesting family. The group which we have selected above as representing the Meliphaga of Lewin and Authors, is the only assemblage of these birds of which we can speak with any satisfaction to ourselves. The species accord in their general characters; and in their habits and the structure of their tongue they are represented as agreeing most perfectly. They exhibit five prominent modifications of form, according to the variation chiefly of the characters of the bill and tail. At present we wish to consider these types of form as sections only of the group, which we name provisionally the genus Meliphaga. When the species become more known, the present sections may justly be considered genera, and the higher group may be denominated the subfamily Meliphagina. When this subdivision takes place, the section which stands first in our text may be considered the true Meliphaga. The Mel. Novæ Hollandiæ will form the type." (Vigors & Horsfield 1827); "MELIPHAGA NOVÆ-HOLLANDIÆ, Vig. and Horsf. New Holland Honey-eater. ... I QUITE agree with Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield in making the bird forming the subject of the present Plate [vol. IV, pl. 23] the type of the restricted genus Meliphaga. Independently of its claim to this distinction from the circumstances of its being the oldest known, it is the species to which the generic term is especially applicable, since, I conceive, it feeds less upon insects and more upon nectarine juices than any other of the family." (Gould 1843); "Meliphaga Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 15, p. 311. Type, by original designation, Certhia novaeHollandiae Latham. Not Meliphaga Lewin, 1808 (Meliphagidae)." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 425).-
Mellirrhophetis (See: Melirrhophetes)
Melirrhophetes (Meliphagidae; syn. Melidectes † Vogelkop Melidectes M. leucostephes) Gr. μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey; ῥοφητος rhophētos that is supped up < ῥοφεω rhopheō to gulp down; "Melirrhophetes 1 n. g. Schnabel von Kopfeslänge oder länger, schwach gebogen. Nasenlöcher linear in einer länglichen Furche gelegen. Kopfseiten nackt. Am Mundwinkel eine lange nackte Hautfalte und an der Kehle zwischen und hinter den Unterkieferwinkeln zwei grössere, warzige Hautlappen. Schwanz mässig lang, wenig abgerundet. Flügel länglich, erste Schwinge halb so lang wie die zweite, die fünfte am längsten. Tarsen mässig. Diese neue zu den Meliphagiden gehörige Gattung unterscheidet sich von Melidectes Scl. hauptsächlich durch die Karunkeln an der Kehle; von Anthochaera Vig. Hors. — in dem Sinne wie Cabanis diese Gattung begrenzt hat - abgesehen von Anderem, durch die nackten Kopfseilen und den Sitz der Karunkeln, welche sich bei Anthochaera an der Ohrgegend befinden. Melirrhophetes leucostephes n. sp. ... Melirrhophetes ochromelas n. sp. ... 1 μελι, Honig und ῥοφεω schlürfen." (Meyer 1875); "Melirrhophetes Meyer, 1875, Sitzungsb. K. Acad. Wiss., Wien, Math. Naturwiss. Cl., 70, p. 110. Type, by subsequent designation (Salvadori, 1881, Ornitologia Papuasia Molucche, 2, p. 320), Melirrhophetes leucostephes Meyer." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 415).
Var. Melirhophetes, Mellirhophetis.- MELLISUGA
(Trochilidae; † Vervain Hummingbird M. minima) L. mel, mellis honey < Gr. μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey; sugere to suck; "Rostro filiformi ... Recto, horizontaliter compresso, & versus apicem parumper ampliato; pedibus brevissimis. . . .Mellisuga. Genus 45. ... Le genre de l'Oiseau-mouche. Genus Mellisugæ. ... Tous les Oiseaux de ce genre n'ont que dix plumes à la queue. Leur langue est composée de deux petits canaux, demi-cylindriques, appliqués l'un contre l'autre, qui forment une espece de siphon, qu'ils sont sortir en grande partie de leur bec, à la maniere des Pics; & par le moyen duquel ils sucent le miel des fleurs ... Les Brasiliens appellent l'Oiseau-mouche en général GUAINUMBI. Marcgr." (Brisson 1760); "Mellisuga Brisson, Orn., 1, 1760, p. 40; 3, 1760, p. 694. Type, by tautonymy, Mellisuga [mellisuga] = Trochilus minimus Linné." (Peters, 1945, V, p. 135). The Vervain Hummingbird of Jamaica and Hispaniola, and the Bee Hummingbird M. helenae of Cuba are the smallest birds in the world.
Synon. Colubris, Dyrinia, Ornismya.
● (Trochilidae; syn. Chlorostilbon † Blue-tailed Emerald C. mellisugus) "GENVS XXXII. MELLISVGA. Honigsaucher. ... 137. Mellisuga Mosquitus. L'oiseau-mouche à gorge torpaze [sic] du Bresil. Rothschwanz. ... Linn. S. N. 12. 192. 14. Trochilus Mosquitus. 138. Mellisuga Cayanensis. L'oiseau-mouche de Cayenne. ... Linn. S. N. 12. 192. 15. Trochilus mellisugus" (Schaeffer 1789).
● (Nectariniidae; syn. Cinnyris † Long-billed Green Sunbird C. notatus) "160. SOUI-MANGA, Mellisuga. Certhia, Linn. Gm. Lath. Bec arqué, quelquefois droit, grêle, plus court, ou plus long que la tête, un peu trigone, très-aigu, entier, ou finement dentelé sur les bords. - Langue divisée en trois filets, du milieu à la pointe. - Ailes à penne batarde. 2 sections. Esp. Soui-manga angala-dian, Buff. - à bec droit, Vieill. Oiseaux dorés." (Vieillot 1816).
● (Thraupidae; ?syn Dacnis) L. mel, mellis honey; sugere to suck; "1. Sous-famille. RAPHIORAMPHIA. Les Raphioramphes. Bec droit. G. 1. Parus L. 2. Igithalus R. 3. Alauda L. 4. Psoridus R. Sylvia Lath. 6. Motacilla L. 7. Oitrüs R. 8. Otimus R. 9. Cripolus R. 10. Sittella R. Sitta L. 11. Baristus R. 12. Talapius R. 13. Polytmus Bris. 14. Mellisuga R." (Rafinesque, 1815, Analyse de la Nature, p. 68).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Ensifera † Sword-billed Hummingbird E. ensifera) "MELLISUGA Briss. ... 1. M. ensifera (Boiss.) Rev. Zool. 1839. p. 354, Mag. de Zool. 1840. Ois. t. 15. —Trochilus Derbyanus Fras." (G. Gray 1848) (Gray's genus includes another one hundred forms); "Mellisuga G. Gray, 1848, Genera of Birds, p. 111. Type, by subsequent designation (Elliot, 1879, Smithsonian Contrib. Knowledge, 317, Classif. Synop. Trochilidae, p. 68), Ornismya ensifera Boissonneau." (JAJ 2020).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Thalurania † Fork-tailed Woodnymph T. furcata) "Mellisuga Briss. ... Arten 1. Troch. furcatus Gm. 2. —— polytmus Linn. 3. —— forficatus Linn. 4. —— macrourus Gm. 5 —— pileatus Pr. Max. 6 —— ourissia. Gm. 7 —— glaucopis. Gm." (Boie 1831); "Mellisuga Boie, 1831, Isis von Oken, col. 545. Type, by subsequent designation (Elliot, 1879, Smithsonian Contrib. Knowledge, 317, Classif. Synop. Trochilidae, p. 98), Trochilus furcatus Gmelin." (JAJ 2020) (but see next sub-entry).
● (Trochilidae; syn. Trochilus † Red-billed Streamertail T. polytmus) "Mellisuga Briss. ... Arten 1. Troch. furcatus Gm. 2. —— polytmus Linn. 3. —— forficatus Linn. 4. —— macrourus Gm. 5 —— pileatus Pr. Max. 6 —— ourissia. Gm. 7 —— glaucopis. Gm." (Boie 1831); "Mellisuga Boie, 1831, Isis von Oken, col. 545. Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 14), Trochilus polytmus Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2020).- mellisugus
L. mel, mellis honey < Gr. μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey; sugere to suck.
● “60. TROCHILUS. ... T. rectricibus æqualibus cæruleis, corpore viride aureo, remigibus atro-cærulescentibus. Mus. Ad. Fr. 2. f. Habitat in Indiis.” (Linnaeus 1758) (Chlorostilbon).-
Mellithreptus (See: MELITHREPTUS)
MELITHREPTUS (Meliphagidae; Ϯ White-naped Honeyeater M. lunatus) Gr. μελιθρεπτος melithreptos honey-fed < μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey; θρεπτα threpta feeding < τρεφω trephō to nourish; "162. HEOROTAIRE, Melithreptus. Certhia, Linn. Gm. Lath. Bec arrondi à la base, entier, plus court, ou plus long que la tête, arqué en faucille, acuminé.—Langue ou divisée en 2 filets, ou ciliée à la pointe.—Les première et deuxième remiges les plus longues. 2 sections. Esp. Heorotaire fuscalbin.—Hoho, Vieill. Ois. dorés. ... Melithreptus [μελιθερωτος [sic], melle nutritus]." (Vieillot 1816); "Melithreptus Vieillot, 1816, Analyse, p. 46. Type, by subsequent designation (Gadow, 1884, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., 9, p. 204), Certhia lunulata Shaw (error for lunata) = Certhia lunata Vieillot.1 ... 1 This is the first correct type designation. It is usually stated that the type designation is based on monotypy, but Vieillot actually placed two species in his Melithreptus, namely "Heorotaire fuscalbin" (= Certhia lunata Vieillot) and "Hoho" (= Certhia pacifica Gmelin), referring to Vieillot, 1802, Oiseaux Dorés, 2, pls. 61, 63, respectively. G. R. Gray, 1840, List Gen. Birds, ed. 1, p. 15 cited Melithreptus as a synonym to Acanthorhynchus, but in the second edition (1841, p. 16) stated that he wanted to retain Melithreptus as the name for the "first section" (i.e. Certhia lunata), "to which it seems more proper that it should be applied." This cannot be accepted as a definite type designation." (Salomonsen in Peters, 1967, XII, p. 394) (see Melithreptes).
Var. Melethreptus, Melitreptus, Melitihreptus, Mellithreptus, Milithreptus.
Synon. Dialis, Eidopsarus, Gymnophrys, Haematops.- mellitus
L. mellitus of honey, honey-sweet, lovely < mel, mellis honey < Gr. μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey.
- mellivora / mellivorus
L. mel, mellis honey < Gr. μελι meli, μελιτος melitos honey; -vorus -eating < vorare to devour.
● "60. TROCHILUS. ... mellivorus. 14. T. rectirostris, rectricibus nigris: lateralibus albis, capite cæruleo, dorso viridi, abdomine albo. Mellivora ventre albo. Edw. av. 35. t. 35. f. 1. Habitat in India. Rectrices laterales albæ; Collum a tergo lunula alba." (Linnaeus 1758) (Florisuga).
● ex “Héoro-taire mellivore” of Audebert & Vieillot 1802, and “Black-eyed Creeper” of Latham 1802 (syn. Glyciphila melanops).- vanbemmeli / vanbemmelli
- Dr Adriaan Cornelis Valentin van Bemmel (1908-1990) Dutch zoologist, ornithologist (subsp. Accipiter virgatus).
