Bronze Mannikin

SCI Name:  Spermestes cucullata
Protonym:  Spermestes cucullata BirdsW.Afr. 1 p.201
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Estrildidae / Spermestes
Taxonomy Code:  broman1
Type Locality:  West Africa ; type from Senegal, in Cambridge Museum.
Author:  Swainson
Publish Year:  1837
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

SPERMESTES
(Estrildidae; Ϯ Bronze Mannikin S. cucullata) Gr. σπερμα sperma,  σπερματος spermatos  seed  < σπειρω speirō  to scatter; -εστης -estēs 
-eater  < εδω edō  to eat; "BRONZE-HOODED BENGALY.  Spermestes cucullata, SWAINS.  ...  On comparing the structure of this bird with the last [Vidua chalybeata], we find that the base of the under mandible is thicker than that of the upper, and that the hind-toe is as long as the tarsus. We have been told that most of these little Bengalies feed upon the hard seeds of the African millet, and some other of the tall grasses, or rather reeds, so common in the swamps of that country; this fact is in unison with the hardness of their bill, while the structure of their large slender feet and claws is precisely that most adapted to secure a hold or footing on smooth and upright stems." (Swainson 1837 (Nat. Hist. Birds Western Africa, I, 201)); "Spermestes, Sw.  Bill short, thick. Feet very large. Toes and claws long and slender. Tail short, even.  Chiefly India.  S. cucullata.  West. Af. i. 201" (Swainson 1837 (Nat. Hist. Classif. Birds, II, 280)); "Spermestes Swainson, 1837, Birds W. Africa, 1, p. 201. Type, by monotypy, Spermestes cucullata Swainson." (Traylor in Peters 1968, XIV, 369).
Var. Spernistes, Spernistis.
Synon. Amauresthes, Pseudospermestes, Stictospermestes.

cucullata / cucullatus
Late L. cucullatus  hooded, cowled  < L. cucullus  hood.
● ex “Cap-noir” of Audebert & Vieillot 1802 (syn. Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris).
● ex “Hirondelle à tête rousse du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 723, fig. 2 (Cecropis).
● ex “Moineau de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 181, fig. 1 (Coryphospingus).
● ex “Perruche à chaperon bleu” of Levaillant 1801-1805 (syn. Eos squamata).
● "62. MERGUS.  ...  cucullatus.  1. M. crista globosa utrinque alba, corpore supra fusco, subtus albo.  Anas cristatus. Catesb. car. I. p. 94. t. 94.  Habitat in America." (Linnaeus 1758) (Lophodytes).
● ex “Hooded Flycatcher” of Latham 1801 (Melanodryas).
● ex Loxia coronata of Miller 1776, “Cardinal Dominicain huppé de la Louisiane” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 103, and “Crested Cardinal” of Brown 1776 (syn. Paroaria coronata).
● ex “Pinçon du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760, and “Troupiale du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781 (Ploceus).
● "86. STRUTHIO.  ...  cucullatus.  4. S. pedibus tetradactylis, omnibus unguiculatis.  Gallus gallinaceus peregrinus. Clus. exot. 99. t. 100. Olear. mus. 23. t. 13. f. 5.  Cygnus cucullatus. Nieremb. nat. 231. Raj. av. 37.  Dronte. Bont. jav. 70.  Habitat in India." (Linnaeus 1758) (‡Raphus).
● ex “Gros-bec appelé la Nonnette” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 393, fig. 3 (?syn. Sporophila americana).

SUBSPECIES

Bronze Mannikin (cucullata)
SCI Name: Spermestes cucullata cucullata
cucullata / cucullatus
Late L. cucullatus  hooded, cowled  < L. cucullus  hood.
● ex “Cap-noir” of Audebert & Vieillot 1802 (syn. Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris).
● ex “Hirondelle à tête rousse du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 723, fig. 2 (Cecropis).
● ex “Moineau de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 181, fig. 1 (Coryphospingus).
● ex “Perruche à chaperon bleu” of Levaillant 1801-1805 (syn. Eos squamata).
● "62. MERGUS.  ...  cucullatus.  1. M. crista globosa utrinque alba, corpore supra fusco, subtus albo.  Anas cristatus. Catesb. car. I. p. 94. t. 94.  Habitat in America." (Linnaeus 1758) (Lophodytes).
● ex “Hooded Flycatcher” of Latham 1801 (Melanodryas).
● ex Loxia coronata of Miller 1776, “Cardinal Dominicain huppé de la Louisiane” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 103, and “Crested Cardinal” of Brown 1776 (syn. Paroaria coronata).
● ex “Pinçon du Sénégal” of Brisson 1760, and “Troupiale du Sénégal” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781 (Ploceus).
● "86. STRUTHIO.  ...  cucullatus.  4. S. pedibus tetradactylis, omnibus unguiculatis.  Gallus gallinaceus peregrinus. Clus. exot. 99. t. 100. Olear. mus. 23. t. 13. f. 5.  Cygnus cucullatus. Nieremb. nat. 231. Raj. av. 37.  Dronte. Bont. jav. 70.  Habitat in India." (Linnaeus 1758) (‡Raphus).
● ex “Gros-bec appelé la Nonnette” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 393, fig. 3 (?syn. Sporophila americana).

Bronze Mannikin (scutata)
SCI Name: Spermestes cucullata scutata
scutata / scutatus
L. scutatus armed with a shield < scutum oblong shield.
● ex “Pic à cravate noire de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 863 (syn. Celeus torquatus).
● ex “Buceros scutata” of Edwards 1751, and “Tête du Calao à casque rond” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 933 (syn. Rhinoplax vigil).