Black Grasswren

SCI Name:  Amytornis housei
Protonym:  Amytis housei W.Austral.Parl.Pap.No.2 No.2 p.52
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Maluridae / Amytornis
Taxonomy Code:  blagra1
Type Locality:  northwestern Kimberley, northwestern Australia.
Author:  Milligan
Publish Year:  1902
IUCN Status:  Near Threatened

DEFINITIONS

AMYTORNIS
(Maluridae; Ϯ Thick-billed Grasswren A. textilis) Genus Amytis Lesson, 1831, grasswren; Gr. ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "Textile Wren ... its mode of progression on the ground is such as no description can convey an accurate conception of, and must be seen to be understood: I cannot perhaps compare it with anything, unless with the motion of an Indian-rubber ball when thrown forcibly along the ground. While stealing from bush to bush, with this rapid movement, its head low and tail perfectly erect, it presents an exceedingly droll appearance" (Gould 1865); "Malurinæ  ...  Amytornis textilis, with two allied species, also from Australia, belong here, wren-like birds of brown plumage, with curious whitish longitudinal streaks" (Stejneger 1885); "Amytornis Stejneger, 1885, in Kingsley, Standard Nat. Hist., 4, p. 499. New name for Amytis Lesson, 1831, preoccupied by Amytis Savigny, 1822." (Mayr in Peters, 1986, XI, p. 404).   
Synon. Amictus, Amytis, Cryptamytis, Diaphorillas, Eyramytis, Magnamytis, Mytisa.

housei
Frederick Maurice House (1865-1936) Australian sheep-farmer in Western Australia (Amytornis).