White-browed Scimitar-Babbler

SCI Name:  Pomatorhinus schisticeps
Protonym:  [Pomatorhinus] Schisticeps As.Res. 19 p.181
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Timaliidae / Pomatorhinus
Taxonomy Code:  wbsbab1
Type Locality:  Nepal.
Author:  Hodgson
Publish Year:  1836
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

POMATORHINUS
(Timaliidae; Ϯ Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler P. montanus) Gr. πωμα pōma, πωματος pōmatos  lid, cover; ῥις rhis, ῥινος rhinos  nostrils; “Gen. 32.  POMATORHINUS.   Rostrum longiusculum, basi rectum, ultra nares modici incurvum et abruptius compressum, mesorhinio elevato: culmine validiusculo, carinato, apice integro.  Nares operculo corneo oblongo convexo clausæ, apertura oblique postice spectans, juxta capistrum fornicata.  Alæ rotundatæ. Remiges: 1 et 2 abrupte, 3 et 4 gradatim increscentes, 3-7 externe tenuiter emarginatæ.  Cauda rotundata, elongata.  Pedes subelongati. Digitus medius longior, cum exteriore basi leviter connexus. Ungues compressi, arcuati, posteriore majore, validiore.  Acropodia scutulata; acrotarsia obscurior.   The corneous covering of the nares and its sudden compression and equal breadth beyond these form the distinguishing character of this genus, in which it differs both from the two following genera [Prinia, Orthotomus], and from that extensive group which comprises Certhia, Nectarinia and Cinnyris. The prominent, rounded and very gradually attenuated back or culmen is also peculiar to this genus.   Spec. 1.  Pomatorhinus montanus.  ...  Bokkrek, Javanis.” (Horsfield 1821); "Pomatorhinus Horsfield, 1821, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 13, p. 164. Type, by monotypy, Pomatorhinus montanus Horsfield." (Deignan in Peters 1964, X, 266).
Var. Pomathorinus, Pomathorhinus, Pomathorrhinus, Pomatorrhinus.
Synon. Xiphirhynchus, Xiphorhamphus.

pomatorhinus
Gr. πωμα pōma, πωματος pōmatos  lid, cover; ῥις rhis, ῥινος rhinos  nostrils.
● See: pomarinus

schisticeps
Late L. schistus  slate  < L. lapis schistos  fissile stone  < Gr. σχιστος skhistos  cloven  < σχιζω skhizō  to split; L. -ceps  -headed  < caput, capitis  head.
● ex “Echenilleur à calotte grise” of Hombron & Jacquinot 1842 (Edolisoma).

SUBSPECIES

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (leucogaster)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps leucogaster
leucogaster / leucogastra / leucogastris
Gr. λευκος leukos  white; γαστηρ gastēr, γαστρος gastros  belly.
● ex “Guainumbi sp. 1” of Marcgrave 1648, “Mellisuga cayanensis ventre albo” of Brisson 1760, “Oiseau-mouche à cravate dorée de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 672, fig. 3, “Cravate-dorée” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Gold-throated Humming-bird” of Latham 1782 (Agyrtria).
● (Boddaert 1783) ex “Merle violet à ventre blanc de Juida” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 648, fig. 1, and de Buffon 1770-1785 (Cinnyricinclus).
● (J. Gmelin 1789) ex “Merle violet à ventre blanc de Juida” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 648, fig. 1, and “Whidah Thrush” of Latham 1783 (syn. Cinnyricinclus leucogaster).
● ex “Drongri à Ventre Blanc” of Levaillant 1805, pl. 171 (syn. Dicrurus leucophaeus).
● ex "Héron bleuâtre à ventre blanc de Cayenne" of d'Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 350, and "Demi-Aigrette" of de Buffon 1770-1786 (syn. Egretta tricolor).
● ex "Jacamar à Ventre Blanc" of Levaillant 1807 (Galbula).
● ex “White-bellied Eagle” of Latham 1781 (Haliaeetus).
● ex “Malkoha” of Levaillant 1807, pl. 224 (syn. Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus).
● ex “Geai à ventre jaune de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 249 (syn. Pitangus sulphuratus).
● ex “Fou de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 973 (Sula).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (schisticeps)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps schisticeps
schisticeps
Late L. schistus  slate  < L. lapis schistos  fissile stone  < Gr. σχιστος skhistos  cloven  < σχιζω skhizō  to split; L. -ceps  -headed  < caput, capitis  head.
● ex “Echenilleur à calotte grise” of Hombron & Jacquinot 1842 (Edolisoma).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (salimalii)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps salimalii
salimali / salimalii
Dr Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali (1896-1987) Indian ornithologist (Apus, subsp. Carpodacus stoliczkae, syn. Chalcophaps indica, subsp. Cisticola juncidis, subsp. Perdicula argoondah, subsp. Ploceus megarhynchus, subsp. Pomatorhinus schisticeps, syn. Regulus regulus himalayensis, Zoothera, subsp. Zosterops palpebrosus).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (cryptanthus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps cryptanthus
cryptantha / cryptanthus
Gr. κρυπτος kruptos hidden; ανθος anthos flower, blossom.

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (mearsi)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps mearsi
mearsi
Lt.-Col. A. Mears (1869-1941) British Army engineer, surveyor in India 1897-1921(syn. Lophura lathami, subsp. Pomatorhinus schisticeps).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (ripponi)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps ripponi
ripponi
Lt.-Col. George Rippon (1861-1927) British Army in India and Burma 1880-1914 (subsp. Abroscopus schisticeps, subsp. Actinodura egertoni, syn. Carpodacus verreauxii, subsp. Certhia himalayana, subsp. Fulvetta vinipectus, Liocichla, subsp. Lophura nycthemera, subsp. Pericrocotus ethologus, subsp. Pomatorhinus schisticeps, syn. Prunella collaris nipalensis, subsp. Suthora nipalensis).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (nuchalis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps nuchalis
nuchale / nuchalis
Mod. L. nuchalis  of the nape, nuchal  < Med. L. nuchus  nape  < Arabic nukhā'  spinal marrow.
● ex “Perruche à face rouge” of Levaillant 1801-1805 (syn. Glossopsitta pusilla).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (difficilis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps difficilis
difficilis
L. difficilis  difficult, troublesome  < dis  asunder, apart; facilis  easy  < facere  to make. Coined of species of uncertain systematic position and difficult to allocate, usually as a result of poorly preserved, mutilated, or limited type material.
● "Similar to Cisticola sylvia Reichenow, but striped above and slightly smaller.  In general coloration it is not very unlike Cisticola emini Reichenow, though striped and more yellowish above and more strongly fulvous below." (Mearns 1912) (syn. Cisticola natalensis strangei). 
● “Although the specimens from the west coast are not sufficiently perfect to allow a full criticism, I am inclined to think that they are really distinct, and that they will not constitute almost the single exception to the fact that no flycatcher is common to both east and west coasts. The colors are lighter, and duller  ... The forehead has a peculiar hoary appearance  ... In view of all these circumstances, therefore, it may be well to give it provisionally a new name, and none would be more appropriate than that of Empidonax difficilis” (Baird 1858) (Empidonax).
● “The present species was referred by Mr Salvin to G. dentirostris, but the smaller size and differently shaped bill induce me to believe that the two birds are distinct” (Sharpe 1888) (Geospiza).
● "Specimens from the middle area of the Orinoco, the Mérida region, and the state of Carabobo, Venezuela, are referred here with some hesitation. They are not quite typical" (Zimmer 1937) (subsp. Myiodynastes maculatus).
● "Como actualmente não temos presentes os exemplares typicos, não podemos dar descripção mais detalhada; limitamo nos, pois a estes nossos apontamentos e ás informações que amavalmente nos forneceram os srs. Hellmayr e Conde von Berlepsch, ficando reservada para publicação posterior a caracterização mais completa desta especie nova" (Ihering & Ihering 1906) (Phylloscartes).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (olivaceus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps 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.).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (humilis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps humilis
humilis
L. humilis  lowly, small, humble, on the ground, of the plain  < humus, humi  ground.

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (klossi)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps klossi
klossi / klossii
Cecil Boden Kloss (1877-1949) English zoologist, Director of Raffles Mus., Singapore 1921-1936 (subsp. Accipiter badius, subsp. Bubo coromandus, subsp. Cinnyris jugularis, subsp. Cissa chinensis, subsp. Cyornis hainanus, subsp. Harpactes erythrocephalus, syn. Myophonus caeruleus eugenei, subsp. Pachycephala soror, subsp. Phylloscopus ogilviegranti, subsp. Pomatorhinus schisticeps, subsp. Prinia superciliaris, Pseudominla, subsp. Pycnonotus aurigaster, subsp. Rallicula rubra, Schoeniparus, Spilornis, subsp. Sylviparus modestus).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (annamensis)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps annamensis
annamense / annamensis
Annam Protectorate, French Indochina (= central Vietnam).

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler (fastidiosus)
SCI Name: Pomatorhinus schisticeps fastidiosus
fastidiosus
L. fastidiosus fastidious  < fastidium  fastidiousness, aversion.