Flame-templed Babbler

SCI Name:  Dasycrotapha speciosa
Protonym:  Dasycrotapha speciosa Proc.Zool.Soc.London Pt1 p.114 pl.9
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Zosteropidae / Dasycrotapha
Taxonomy Code:  fltbab1
Type Locality:  Valencia, Negros, Philippine Islands.
Author:  Tweeddale
Publish Year:  1878
IUCN Status:  Endangered

DEFINITIONS

DASYCROTAPHA
(Zosteropidae; Ϯ Flame-templed Babbler D. speciosa) Gr. δασυς dasus  hairy; κροταφος krotaphos  brow, temples; "This last bird is so anomalous in its structure that I propose to constitute it the type of a new genus,  DASYCROTAPHA³.   Base of maxilla densely clothed with short feathers, space behind the eye naked.  Bill about the length of head, and formed as in Mixornis.  Wing lengthened, longer than tail, first primary half the length of the second, which is a fifth shorter than the third, third a little shorter than the fourth, which is equal to fifth and sixth.  Tail moderate and square.  Tarsus strong; hallux with claw stout and long; digits short, slender; outer a little shorter than the inner.   DASYCROTAPHA SPECIOSA, sp. nov.  (Plate IX.).  Head crested; forehead with dense short plumes covering the base of the maxilla; circle around the eye, whole space before the eye, tuft on the side of the base of mandible, chin and uppermost part of throat pure lemon-yellow; crown of the head black; postoccipital plumes yellow; nape yellowish green tipped with black; a lengthened tuft of plumes springing from above the eye bright orange; a line immediately below this tuft black; a tuft of stiff decomposed feathers springing from below the eye and extending over the ears white or greyish white  ...  The hereditary affinity of this new form with Macronus striaticeps and Mixornis capitalis is betrayed by the colouring and markings of the dorsal plumage.   ...   ³ δασυς, villosus, et κροταφοι, tempora capitis" (Tweeddale 1878); "Dasycrotapha Tweeddale, 1878, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 114, pl. 9.  Type, by original designation and monotypy, Dasycrotapha speciosa Tweeddale." (Deignan in Peters, 1964, X, p. 302). This bird has also been given the substantive name Flame-temple, and I have suggested elsewhere that the birds of this genus be given the substantive Zosterornis, to reflect their new position in the Zosteropidae. 
Var. Dasycrotopha.

speciosa / speciosum / speciosus
L. speciosus  splendid, beautiful, brilliant  < species  beauty, appearance  < specere  to look at.
● ex “Manucode à bouquets” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Magnificent Paradise-bird” of Latham 1783 (syn. Diphyllodes magnificus).
● ex “Grand Promérops à paremens frisés” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (syn. Epimachus fastuosus).
● ex “Pigeon-ramier de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 213, “Ramiret” of de Buffon 1770-1786, and “Scallop-necked Pigeon” of Latham 1783 (Patagioenas).
● ex “Black-and-Scarlet Thrush” of Latham 1787 (Pericrocotus).
● ex “Moineau de la côte d’Afrique” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 203, fig. 1 (syn. Pytilia melba).