As Russ has pointed out, in Sydney's early days the Regent Bowerbird
was named 'Regent-bird' because of its gold and black plumage (the Satin
Bowerbird was plain 'Satin-bird', the term Bowerbird being later
invented by Gould).
The Regent Honeyeater was at first called the 'False Regent-bird', as
well as Warty-faced or Embroidered Honeyeater and Flying Coachman (No
idea why the last unless it was seen as wearing gaudy livery.)
Regent being attached to black-and-gold birds, Regent Parrot was
probably inevitable, though it also has a lot of bush names. I have
heard plenty of people say 'What d'you mean Regent, it's a Smoker
Parrot!' and I believe Rock Pebbler is also still current.
By-names for parrot and finch species used to be a standard technique
for bird dealers, in bamboozling the public that their wares were in no
way protected or subject to regulations.
Anthea Fleming
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
