From: Dieter O <doschadleus@gmail.com>
Date: 2016-02-08 21:46
Subject: Re: [KENYABIRDSNET] What's in a name? Compact Weaver
Hi Adam and others
Interesting question.
The first English name given to this species was Buff-browed
Weaver-bird (see http://weavers.adu.org.za/sp.php?spp=3830).
The first time Compact Weaver was used was, I think, Shelley 1905,
after a quick search so I may have missed an early reference.
Shelley 1905 gave no hint as to the reason for the name.
The genus gives the most likely clue. Pachyphantes was introduced by
Shelley 1896, without description, and this name means:
Greek: pakhus, thick; huphantes, a weaver.
So when Shelly gave English names to African birds in 1905, he must
have translated Pachyphantes to thick weaver, or rather Compact
Weaver.
Shelley 1905 did not mention the nest of this species, so without
checking all references, I suspect the nest was not known when the
name Compact Weaver was introduced, again confirming that the
English name is based on its genus name.
Dieter
Hi All,
I wonder if someone can shed some light on the
naming of Compact Weaver for me.
I consider it a fairly 'compact' bird but I would
imagine that the species is so named for its compact
nest, which is smooth and finely woven - unlike many
other weavers.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers for now,
Adam
--
Dr Dieter Oschadleus
doschadleus@gmail.com (or Dieter.Oschadleus@uct.ac.za)
Bird-ringing Coordinator, SAFRING
Animal Demography Unit tel: (021) 650-2421
University of Cape Town NEW fax: (021) 650-3301 (Zoology)
Rondebosch 7701 RSA
SAFRING http://safring.adu.org.za
Weavers http://weavers.adu.org.za