Chinese Cupwing

SCI Name:  Pnoepyga mutica
Protonym:  Pnoepyga mutica Mem.Mus.Comp.Zool. 40 (4) p. 172, pl. IV, fig. 1
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Pnoepygidae / Pnoepyga
Taxonomy Code:  chicup1
Type Locality:  Wa Shan, southwestern Szechwan.
Author:  Thayer & Bangs
Publish Year:  1912
IUCN Status:  

DEFINITIONS

PNOEPYGA
(Pnoepygidae; † Scaly-breasted Cupwing P. albiventer) Gr. πνοη pnoē  blowing  < πνεω pneō  to breathe; πυγη pugē rump; "Pnoepyga (Tesia) concolor, [drawing no.] 847.    P. pusillus, [drawing no.] 870.  P. rufiventer, [drawing no.] 457.  P. albiventer, [drawing no.] 491." (Hodgson 1844); “Genus Pnoepyga (olim Tesia), mihi.  ...  wings very short, bowed, and perfectly rounded; tail rudimentary, consisting of only six plumes, which are hid by the puffy rump-feathers.  ...  Types, the following: — 1st species, albiventer (M. squamata, Gould, postea), mihi.” (Hodgson 1845); "Pnoepyga Hodgson, 1844, in J. E. Gray, Zool. Misc., no. 3, p. 82. Type, by subsequent designation (Zimmer and Vaurie, 1954, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 74, p. 41), Tesia albiventer Hodgson." (Deignan in Peters, 1964, X, p. 293).  The birds of this genus were formerly known as Wren Babblers.  Cupwing is an innovative modern creation which does not scan well; I suggest the substantive Dwarf-babbler.
Var. Proepygia (Gr. προε- proe-  before), Pneopyga, Propyga.
Synon. Microura.

mutica / muticus
L. muticus  docked, curtailed  < mutilus maimed  < mutilare  to cut off.  The Green Peafowl was originally only known in Europe by means of a painting sent by Go-Yōzei Emperor of Japan to Pope Innocent IX in 1591; “the legs are ash coloured, and not furnished with spurs  ...  possibly they might have been overlooked by the painter” (Latham 1783) (Pavo).