Abbott's Babbler

SCI Name:  Turdinus abbotti
Protonym:  M[alacocincla]. Abbotti J.Asiat.Soc.Bengal 14 p.601
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Pellorneidae / Turdinus
Taxonomy Code:  abbbab1
Type Locality:  Ramree Island, Arakan, Lower Burma.
Author:  Blyth
Publish Year:  1845
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

TURDINUS
(Pellorneidae; Ϯ Large Wren-babbler T. macrodactylus) Mod. L. turdinus  thrush-like  < L. turdus  thrush; "Macronous  ...  Next to it, I had arranged a bird which has recently been described by Mr. Strickland by the name Malacopteron macrodactylum (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1844, p. 417), but I still consider it to merit separation, from the general robustness of its conformation, and the great strength of the tarse and of the middle and hind toes. The bill closely resembles that of Macronous.  I designate it Turdinus, Nobis.  Form somewhat Meruline, thick-set, with large strong legs and toes, and rounded wings and tail.  Bill as long as the head, moderately stout, straight, compressed, the ridge of the upper mandible angulated, its tip emarginated, and curving over that of the lower mandible; nostrils oval, and pierced in the fore-part of the nasal membrane, at some distance from the frontal feathers; rictus well armed: legs stout, the tarse equalling the middle toe with its claw; outer and inner toes equal, and proportionally small, their terminal joint reaching only to the penultimate joint of the middle toe; hind toe strong, and furnished with a rather large claw, but moderately curved: wings much graduated, the fifth to the ninth primaries inclusive subequal and longest, the first about half their length; tail also graduated externally, and hollowed underneath; plumage lax and scale-like, at least on the upper-parts, very copious and puffy over the rump.    T. macrodactylus, (Strickland) Blyth.   ...   Brought from Singapore." (Blyth 1844).
Synon. Cacopitta, Curzonia, Gypsophila, Hadropezus.
● See: Turdinulus

turdinus
Mod. L. turdinus  thrush-like  < L. turdus  thrush (see turdina).

abbotti
● Dr William Louis Abbott (1860-1936) US surgeon, explorer, ethnologist, naturalist who collected widely around the world 1883-1923 (syn. Brachypodius atriceps baweanus, syn. Butorides striata javanica, subsp. Cacatua sulphurea, ‡subsp. Calyptophilus frugivorus, Celebesica, syn. Chlorophoneus multicolor, subsp. Cinnyris souimanga, syn. Coccyzus minor, subsp. Cyanecula svecica, ‡subsp. Dryolimnas cuvieri, syn. Hirundo tahitica javanica, subsp. Hypothymis azurea, syn. Kittacincla malabarica tricolor, syn. Lybius leucocephalus albicauda, subsp. Megapodius nicobariensis, subsp. Nesoctites micromegas, subsp. Nyctibius jamaicensis, Papasula, syn. Phodilus badius, subsp. Pitta sordida, subsp. Psittacula alexandri, Psittinus, subsp. Spilornis cheela, syn. Streptopelia picturata rostrata, subsp. Threskiornis bernieri, syn. Treron vernans).
● Lt.-Col. John Richard Abbott (1811-1888) British Army, Assistant-Commissioner of the Arakan, Burma 1837-1845 (Malacocincla).
● Dr Charles Greeley Abbott (1872-1973) US astrophysicist, solar researcher, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 1928-1944, Secretary Emeritus 1944-1973 (syn. Tychaedon coryphoeus). 

SUBSPECIES

Abbott's Babbler (abbotti)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti abbotti
abbotti
● Dr William Louis Abbott (1860-1936) US surgeon, explorer, ethnologist, naturalist who collected widely around the world 1883-1923 (syn. Brachypodius atriceps baweanus, syn. Butorides striata javanica, subsp. Cacatua sulphurea, ‡subsp. Calyptophilus frugivorus, Celebesica, syn. Chlorophoneus multicolor, subsp. Cinnyris souimanga, syn. Coccyzus minor, subsp. Cyanecula svecica, ‡subsp. Dryolimnas cuvieri, syn. Hirundo tahitica javanica, subsp. Hypothymis azurea, syn. Kittacincla malabarica tricolor, syn. Lybius leucocephalus albicauda, subsp. Megapodius nicobariensis, subsp. Nesoctites micromegas, subsp. Nyctibius jamaicensis, Papasula, syn. Phodilus badius, subsp. Pitta sordida, subsp. Psittacula alexandri, Psittinus, subsp. Spilornis cheela, syn. Streptopelia picturata rostrata, subsp. Threskiornis bernieri, syn. Treron vernans).
● Lt.-Col. John Richard Abbott (1811-1888) British Army, Assistant-Commissioner of the Arakan, Burma 1837-1845 (Malacocincla).
● Dr Charles Greeley Abbott (1872-1973) US astrophysicist, solar researcher, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 1928-1944, Secretary Emeritus 1944-1973 (syn. Tychaedon coryphoeus). 

Abbott's Babbler (krishnarajui)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti krishnarajui
krishnarajui
Kakarlapudi Seeta Rama Krishna Raju (1948-2002) Indian ornithologist, conservationist (Björn Bergenholtz in litt.) (subsp. Malacocincla abbotti).

Abbott's Babbler (williamsoni)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti williamsoni
williamsoni
● Sir Walter James Franklin Williamson (1867-1954) English civil servant in India, financial adviser to the Thai government, collector, oologist (subsp. Malacocincla abbotti, subsp. Micropternus brachyurus, subsp. Muscicapa dauurica, subsp. Ploceus manyar, subsp. Zosterops palpebrosus).
● Lady Marion Williamson (d. 1945) wife of English financial adviser Sir Walter J. F. Williamson in Thailand (subsp. Mirafra javanica).
● Capt. James Hay Williamson (d. 1898) British mariner, tea-merchant and pioneer tea-planter in Assam, co-founder of Williamson Magor tea plantation group (syn. Napothera brevicaudata striata).
● Lt.-Col. Robert Stockton Williamson (1824-1882) US Army, engineer, surveyor, explorer (syn. Sphyrapicus thyroideus).

Abbott's Babbler (obscurior)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti obscurior
obscurior / obscuriora
L. obscurior, obscurioris  darker  < comp. obscurus  dark, obscure.

Abbott's Babbler (alter)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti alter
alter / altera
L. alter, altera, alterum  second, next, another  < comp. alius  other.
● "13.  ALÆMON HAMERTONI ALTERA, subsp. nov.  ♂ ad.  This bird differs from typical A. hamertoni described above by the whole of the upperside being of a pale sandy colour.  The flanks and belly are also more buff-coloured and the upper breast is more faintly marked with greyish brown, while the under wing-coverts and axillaries are pale sandy buff.  The buff-coloured supercilium is also more distinct." (Witherby 1905) (subsp. Alaemon hamertoni).
● "Ammospiza caudacuta altera subsp. nov.  ...  Similar to Ammospiza caudacuta nelsoni (Allen), but general coloration lighter.  The blackish-brown lateral stripes on the pileum are narrower and the grayish median stripe is correspondingly wider; the superciliaries are paler buff, and the auriculars more grayish and more strongly contrasted with the surrounding parts; the wing coverts and secondaries have paler rusty buff edgings; there is less brownish shading on the back, and the white streaks are less prominent."(Todd 1938) (subsp. Ammospiza nelsoni).
● "Cinnyris habessinicus alter nov. subsp.  Sehr ähnlich dem Cinnyris habessinicus habessinicus von Nord-Abyssinien, aber etwas grösser und mit längerem, geraderem Schnabel." (Neumann 1906) (subsp. Cinnyris habessinicus).
● "CORAPIPO LEUCORRHOA ALTERA, subsp. n.   ♂ Exactly of the same coloration as C. l. leucorrhoa (Scl.) of Colombia, but at once known by the different form of the wing.  The fourth primary the longest  ...  In C. l. leucorrhoa the fifth and sixth primaries are the longest" (Hellmayr 1906) (subsp. Corapipo leucorrhoa).
● "Arising from an enquiry made by Mr. H. G. Deignan of the United States National Museum it appeared that some specimens of the babbler Trichastoma abbotti in the British Museum (Natural History) represent an undescribed race.  Mr. Deignan has asked that a name should be given them so that it can be included in the section of Peter's Check List of the Birds of the World on which he is working.  The specimens were examined by Mrs. B. P. Hall but she left for Africa before a note could be prepared; she has now given me permission to publish a description.  I agree with her that the specimens have distinctive characters and appear to represent a valid race which is named as follows:— Trichastoma abbotti alterum new race.  Description: Nearest to williamsoni Deignan, 1948, but the crown is duller in colour and the forehead less streaked; the remainder of the upper parts are also slightly duller being more chestnut and less rufescent.  The throat is greyer and more distinctly streaked while the breast has more of an ashy than olivaceous wash.  The flanks are slightly paler and duller being more cinnamomeous than rufescent; they also have a somewhat ashy wash." (Sims 1957) (subsp. Malacocincla abbottii).
● "75.  Manucodia ater altera subsp. nov.  ...  Specimens from the south-eastern parts of New Guinea—namely, British New Guinea and the Louisiade Islands (Sudest)—are so much larger (wing in males 193—206 mm., bill about 40—44, against wing (♂) 168—188, bill 35—40 in typical ater) that we are obliged to separate them under a new subspecific name.  The bill is altogether stronger (less slender) and higher, and generally longer, tail and wings longer.  In adult birds the head is generally less greenish than in typical ater." (Rothschild & Hartert 1903) (subsp. Manucodia ater).
● "H. desolatus alter, subsp. n.; Auckland Islands.   Bill broader still, and agreeing very closely with H. d. banksi, under which name it has been commonly known.  The type of H. d. banksi seems immature, and therefore the present race would have a slightly narrower bill.  ...  It should be remembered that the differences are more easily appreciable in nature than would appear from a study of these figures, which are most accurately and carfully drawn." (Mathews 1912) (syn. Pachyptila desolata).
● "PYRRHULA ALTERA, sp. n.   ♂ ad. Similis P. erithaco ♂, sed supra clarius schistaceus, nec murino-brunneus, rubedine pectoris magis miniata, nec aurantiaco-rubra distinguendus.  ...  ♀ ad. Similis P. erithaco ♀, sed saturatior, gastræo intense chocolatino, nec vinaceo-brunneo, dorso sordide chocolatino, pileo colloque postico clarius schistaceis." (Rippon 1906) (syn. Pyrrhula erythaca).
● "Rhipidura nebulosa altera, new subspecies.  ...  Similar to nebulosa, but lighter, white marks more pronounced; the white postocular stripe broader and longer; the white supraloral spot more pronounced; most specimens with a distinct whitish throat which is exceptional in nebulosa; buffy area on lower belly more extended; white margins on the tail-feathers broader; smaller." (Mayr 1931) (subsp. Rhipidura nebulosa).

Abbott's Babbler (olivaceus)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti olivaceus
olivaceum / olivaceus
Mod. L. olivaceus  olive-green, olivaceous  < L. oliva  olive.
● ex “Merle olive des grandes Indes” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 564, fig. 1 (syn. Acritillas indica).
● ex “Oliva” of Levaillant 1801, pl. 75 (Chlorophoneus).
● ex “Crimson-breasted Woodpecker” of Latham 1782 (Geocolaptes).
● ex “Troupiale olive de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 606, fig. 2, and “Cayenne Olive Oriole” of Latham 1782 (?syn. Icterus auricapillus).
● ex “White-cheeked Crow” of Latham 1801 (Psophodes).
● ex “Perroquet de l’isle de Luçon” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 287, “Perruche aux ailes chamarées” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Lace-winged Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Tanygnathus lucionensis).
● ex "Bruant de S. Domingue" of Brisson 1760 (Tiaris).
● ex “Merle olive du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of Brisson 1760 (Turdus).
● ex “Red-ey’d Fly-catcher” of Catesby 1731, “Muscicapa olivacea” of Edwards 1758, and “Muscicapa jamaicensis” of Brisson 1760 (Vireo).
● ex “Grimpereau olive de Madagascar” of Brisson 1760 (Zosterops).
● ex “Merula olivacea indica” of Brisson 1760 (unident.).

Abbott's Babbler (concretus)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti concretus
concreta / concretus
Mod. L. concretus  large, sturdy, strong  < Med. L. concretus  concrete   < L. concretus  hard, thickened  < concrescere  to grow.

Abbott's Babbler (baweanus)
SCI Name: Turdinus abbotti baweanus
baweana / baweanum / baweanus
Bawean I., Java Sea, Indonesia.