Striated Grassbird

SCI Name:  Megalurus palustris
Protonym:  Megalurus palustris Trans.Linn.Soc.London(1), 13 p.159
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Locustellidae / Megalurus
Taxonomy Code:  strgra1
Type Locality:  Java.
Author:  Horsfield
Publish Year:  1821
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MEGALURUS
(Locustellidae; Ϯ Striated Grassbird M. palustris) Gr. μεγας megas, μεγαλη megalē  great, long; ουρα oura tail; "Gen. 23.  MEGALURUS.  Rostrum mediocre, rectum, validiusculum, subcompressum, valde gradatim attenuatum.  Culmen rotundatum, inter nares carinatum, apice emarginatum.  Nares basales, superne membrana clausæ, apertura parva lineari juxta tomia.  Alæ cauda breviores.  Remiges: prima subspuria, secunda, tertia et quarta (quæ sunt æquales) paululum brevior, reliquæ  gradatim breviores.  Cauda valde elongata cuneata.  Pedes validi; tarsi elongati.  Digiti laterales æquales, medius longus.  Ungues compressi acuti, hallucis medio dimidio major mediocriterarcuatus.   This genus appears to take a situation intermediate between Motacilla and Anthus on one side and Alauda on the other. It differs from the former in the strength and horny nature of the bill, in which it approaches to Alauda; but the bill is longer than in the latter genus, straight and decidedly notched. In the degree of enlargement and the curvature of the claw of the posterior toe it also holds an intermediate situation. The legs are comparatively robust, and the size of the tail is different from the allied genera.    Spec. 1. Megalurus palustris   ...   Larri-angon Javanis." (Horsfield 1821); "Megalurus Horsfield, 1821, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 13, p. 158. Type, by monotypy, Megalurus palustris Horsfield." (Watson in Peters 1986, XI, 37).
Synon. Myalurus, Papuodytes.

paluster / palustrae / palustre / palustris
L. paluster, palustris  marshy  < palus, paludis  swamp, marsh.
● ex “Parus palustris” of Gessner 1555, Aldrovandus 1599, and Willughby 1676, “Marsh-Titmouse” or “Black-Cap” of Ray 1713, “Black Cap” of Albin 1738, and “Parus capite nigro, temporibus albis, dorso cinereo” of Linnaeus 1746 (Poecile).
● ex “Tordo guirahuró” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 64 (syn. Pseudoleistes guirahuro).
● ex “Hirondelle de Marais” or “Brunette” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 246, fig. 2 (syn. Riparia paludicola).

SUBSPECIES

Striated Grassbird (toklao)
SCI Name: Megalurus palustris toklao
toklao
Hindi name Takko for the Striated Grassbird (cf. Bengali name Tikra for Blyth’s Reed Warbler) (subsp. Megalurus palustris).

Striated Grassbird (forbesi)
SCI Name: Megalurus palustris forbesi
forbesi
● William Alexander Forbes (1855-1883) British zoologist, collector in tropical Africa and Brazil (Anumara, syn. Aplopelia simplex, Charadrius, syn. Emberiza affinis, subsp. Halcyon malimbica, subsp. Lagonosticta rara, Leptodon).
● "This new geographical race of the Striped Owl is named for Mr. Dyfrig McH. Forbes, of Potrero Viejo, Veracruz, who, along with his family, has contributed greatly to scientific knowledge by making extensive collections of natural history objects and by assisting personnel connected with various museum expeditions. In the latter regard, the Hacienda Potrero has served as headquarters or temporary abode for numerous field parties of diverse zoological interest" (Lowery & Dalquest 1951) (subsp. Asio clamator).
● Sir Victor Courtenay Walter Forbes (1889-1958) British diplomat in Mexico, Spain and Peru (Atlapetes).
● Henry Ogg Forbes (1851-1932) Scottish botanist, ethnologist, explorer in the East Indies and New Guinea, Director of the Canterbury Mus., New Zealand, 1890-1893, Director of the Liverpool Museums 1894-1911 (Cyanoramphus, syn. Erythrura tricolor, Lonchura, subsp. Myzomela nigrita, Ninox, Rallicula).
● William Cameron Forbes (1870-1959) US banker, diplomat, Commissioner of Philippine Commerce & Police 1904-1908, Vice-Gov. and Gov.-Gen. of the Philippines 1908-1913, Ambassador to Japan 1930-1932 (subsp. Megalurus palustris, syn. Zosterops everetti basilanicus).

Striated Grassbird (palustris)
SCI Name: Megalurus palustris palustris
paluster / palustrae / palustre / palustris
L. paluster, palustris  marshy  < palus, paludis  swamp, marsh.
● ex “Parus palustris” of Gessner 1555, Aldrovandus 1599, and Willughby 1676, “Marsh-Titmouse” or “Black-Cap” of Ray 1713, “Black Cap” of Albin 1738, and “Parus capite nigro, temporibus albis, dorso cinereo” of Linnaeus 1746 (Poecile).
● ex “Tordo guirahuró” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 64 (syn. Pseudoleistes guirahuro).
● ex “Hirondelle de Marais” or “Brunette” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 246, fig. 2 (syn. Riparia paludicola).