In fact, according to Jobling (who is usually very reliable), Ninox means
hawk-owl, as first applied to the Brown Hawk-Owl (Ninox scutulata). It is a
combination of two genus names, viz. Nisus, sparrowhawk, and Noctua, owl (from
Latin noctua, an owl sacred to the goddess Minerva; derived from nox or noctis,
the night). Hodgson, who coined the name, considered it the 'most accipitrine
of owls'.
Paul Van Gasse
Kruibeke, Belgium
-----Original Message-----
From: Philip A Veerman [SMTP:
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 1999 2:32 AM
To: ; Birding-Aus
Subject: birding-aus re Ninox Owl
Hi Ron,
Thanks for inviting some expert opinion on your project. A good move. Goes down
well with me at least.
Ninox is a genus, not a species. That is Ninox is a group of about 16 species
of owls, mostly of the Australasian region, 4 of which occur in Australia.
Cayley's book gives the etymology of Ninox as Ni unknown and nox = night. So it
is not true that Ninox just means owl. Besides there are many other owl genera
other than Ninox. The largest species of the Ninox genus is the Powerful Owl
(Ninox strenua). Please under no circumstances use the misspelling Ninox
Strenua. Specific names are always in lower case and scientific names are
always in italics. I agree that the picture appears to be of this species.
As for your statement "Project NINOX is named after the Ninox Owl - an
aggressive Australian hunting owl." The intent is commendable but the wording
not really correct.
Ninox is not AN owl, it is a group (genus) of owls, so it is not quite right to
say "the Ninox Owl", noone uses such a name.
It also includes a silly statement of the obvious, "hunting owl". All owls are
hunters. It is like saying a Hereford is a grass-eating cow, as if other cows
aren't. Unless of course "Australian hunting owl" is meant to mean an owl that
hunts Australians. I'm not too sure that the Powerful Owl is more aggressive
than say the Barking Owl (Ninox connivens) but that is not so important.
It would be correct to say: "Project NINOX is named after the Australian owl
group exemplified here by its largest member, the Powerful Owl Ninox strenua."
I hope this helps.
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