Report on the collection of Australian vertebrata contained in the museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta / [Edward Blyth].

  • Edward Blyth
Date:
1848]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the collection of Australian vertebrata contained in the museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta / [Edward Blyth]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/70 page 10
    Estrelda hella, (Latham), B. A. pt. XVIII. Two specimens (now in bad condition), presented by Mr. Cracroft. Estr. temporalis, (Lath.), B. A. pt. VI. Two specimens, from the Sydney Institution : another, presented by Lord A. Hay. Fam.-— ? Pardalotus punctatus, (Lath.), B. A. pt. XV. Four specimens, presented by Mr. Benson, and purchased. P. striatus, (Lath.), B. A. pt. XV. Three specimens, presented by Mr. Ben¬ son. Fam. Paridce. Falcunculus frontatus, (Lath.), B. A. pt. V. Pair, presented by Mr. Benson. Oreoica cristata, (Lewin) : 0. gutturalis, (V. and II.), Gould, B. A. pt. XII: a Parus apud Strickland, but the dissimilarity of the sexes is rather at variance with this arrangement. Male; Sydney Institution. Fam. Certhiadce. Sittella chrysoptera, (Lath.), B. A. pt. XIV. Two specimens (now in bad condition); presented by Mr. Cracroft. Climacteris scandens, Tern., B. A. pt. IV. Two specimens, presented by Mr. Benson. Cl. leucopheea, (Lath.): Cl. picumnus, Tern., Gould, B. A. pt. IV. Two specimens, presented by Mr. Benson. Fam. Motacillidce. Anthus australis, Vieillot, also Vigors and Horsfield, B. A. pt. XXVII. Vide J. A. S. XVI, p. 434. Specimen from the Sydney Institution. Fam. Myiotheridce. Brachyurus strepitans, (Tem.), B. A. pt. VI. Specimen purchased. Fam. Laniadce ? (Allied to Tephrodornis ?) commonly referred to Amadina, are more akin to Donacola of Gould. Poephila of the latter seems again to be identical as a group with Erythrura, Sw., as founded upon Fringilla prasina, Sparrman.—The origin of the name Amadina is curious. It is obvi¬ ously founded on the common English name Amaduvat, applied to the Estrelda amandava, (L.) And this derives from the city of Ahmedabad in Guzerat! The curious plain-spoken old traveller “ John Fryer, M. D., Cantabrig.,” remarks (in his ‘ New Account of East India and Persia/ 1698, p. 116), among other curiosities brought to Surat—“ From Amidivad small birds, who besides that they are spotted with white and red no bigger than measles, the principal chorister be¬ ginning, the rest in concert, fifty in a cage, make an admirable chorus.” Lonchura of Sykes should therefore stand for the Indian species referred to Amadina; and should this be forestalled, Mania of Hodgson. The “ Amidivad” birds of Dr. Fryer are typical Estrelda?, Sw.
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