Gray Grasswren

SCI Name:  Amytornis barbatus
Protonym:  Amytornis barbatus Mem.Natl.Mus.Victoria no.28 p.1 pl.1,2
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Maluridae / Amytornis
Taxonomy Code:  grygra1
Type Locality:  Teurika, northwestern New South Wales.
Author:  Favaloro & McEvey
Publish Year:  1968
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

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.

barbatus
L. barbatus  bearded  < barba  beard (see barbata).
● "There are two South-African specimens of a Swift in the Leyden Museum labelled "Cypselus barbatus," which differs from European examples principally in their lighter colour above, particularly on the secondaries and scapulars, in the white feathers of the gular patch presenting a narrow black central line, and in the feathers of the lower back, belly, and under wing-coverts being narrowly margined with white.  Two specimens from Natal, collected by Mr. Ayres are similar.  It is possible that this form may be entitled to rank as a species, to which Temminck's MS. name may be applied." (P. Sclater 1865) (Apus).
● "DENDRORTYX BARBATUS.  Bearded Partridge.  ...  Head slightly crested, the feathers of which are dark brown; forehead brownish buff; stripe above and behind the eye, throat and sides of the neck leaden grey" (Gould 1846) (Dendrortyx).
● "40. VULTUR.  ...  barbatus.  5. V. albidus, dorso fusco, jugulo barbato, rostro incarnato, capite linea nigra cincto.  Vultur aureus. Gesn. av. 783. t. 781.  Vultur barbatus. Edv. av. 106. t. 106.  Habitat in Africa.  Ad basin maxillæ inferioris barba dependet; frons oculorumque regio atra." (Linnaeus 1758) (Gypaetus). This epithet is the fifth name and first adjectival in avian nomenclature.
● ex “Barbichon de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 830, and “Whiskered Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (Myiobius).
● ex “Bearded Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Psittacula alexandri).
● ex “Merle barbu” of Desfontaines 1789: “Le bec est noir, un peu arqué, long de six à sept lignes; de sa base naissent cinq à six petites soies brunes, roides, de la grosseur d’un crin de cheval” (Pycnonotus).
● ex “Pic à Doubles Moustaches” of Levaillant 1808, pl. 251 (syn. Thripias namaquus).

SUBSPECIES

Gray Grasswren (barbatus)
SCI Name: Amytornis barbatus barbatus
barbatus
L. barbatus  bearded  < barba  beard (see barbata).
● "There are two South-African specimens of a Swift in the Leyden Museum labelled "Cypselus barbatus," which differs from European examples principally in their lighter colour above, particularly on the secondaries and scapulars, in the white feathers of the gular patch presenting a narrow black central line, and in the feathers of the lower back, belly, and under wing-coverts being narrowly margined with white.  Two specimens from Natal, collected by Mr. Ayres are similar.  It is possible that this form may be entitled to rank as a species, to which Temminck's MS. name may be applied." (P. Sclater 1865) (Apus).
● "DENDRORTYX BARBATUS.  Bearded Partridge.  ...  Head slightly crested, the feathers of which are dark brown; forehead brownish buff; stripe above and behind the eye, throat and sides of the neck leaden grey" (Gould 1846) (Dendrortyx).
● "40. VULTUR.  ...  barbatus.  5. V. albidus, dorso fusco, jugulo barbato, rostro incarnato, capite linea nigra cincto.  Vultur aureus. Gesn. av. 783. t. 781.  Vultur barbatus. Edv. av. 106. t. 106.  Habitat in Africa.  Ad basin maxillæ inferioris barba dependet; frons oculorumque regio atra." (Linnaeus 1758) (Gypaetus). This epithet is the fifth name and first adjectival in avian nomenclature.
● ex “Barbichon de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 830, and “Whiskered Fly-catcher” of Latham 1783 (Myiobius).
● ex “Bearded Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Psittacula alexandri).
● ex “Merle barbu” of Desfontaines 1789: “Le bec est noir, un peu arqué, long de six à sept lignes; de sa base naissent cinq à six petites soies brunes, roides, de la grosseur d’un crin de cheval” (Pycnonotus).
● ex “Pic à Doubles Moustaches” of Levaillant 1808, pl. 251 (syn. Thripias namaquus).

Gray Grasswren (diamantina)
SCI Name: Amytornis barbatus diamantina
diamantina
Diamantina River, western Queensland, Australia.