Great Basin Naturalist

Volume 59 Number 3 Article 3

7-19-1999

History of the naming of the Ferruginous Hawk

Neil D. Woffinden University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

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Recommended Citation Woffinden, Neil. D (1999) "History of the naming of the Ferruginous Hawk," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 59 : No. 3 , Article 3. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol59/iss3/3

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Great Basin Naturalist 59(3), ©1999, pp. 221-229

HISTORY OF THE NAMING OF THE FERRUGINOUS HAWK

Neil D. \Voffinden1

ABSTRAc,'T.-The Ferruginous Hawk, a breeding bird endemic to North America, was named Falco ferrugineus in 1838 by H. Lichtenstein, curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. The lype was collected by F. Deppe near presellt­ clay Monterey, California. In 1844 G.R Gray of the Blitish !vfuseum assigned the name Buteo regalis to a Fermginou:'i Hawk specimen ofunknown origin, but perhaps donated to the museum by John Phillips, a renowned British geologist. The species was known as Falco (Buteo) ferrugineus until the 1920s when it was discovered that this epithet "vas occu­ pied. The next name in priority was Gray's Buteo regali8-, which then became valid. The species has been known by a number of common names. Even though any reference to the msty brown markings on the Qthenvise white plumage is no longer part of the species scientific name, the Ferruginous Hawk continues to be the most frequently used common name.

Key words: Ferrugitwu8 Hawk, Buteo regalis, scientific name, hist.ory.

The Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis Gray reduce confusion, Buteo regalis for a time was 1844) is a large prairie buteo ofwesteru North called the Ferruginous (from the Latin ferru­ America. It breeds from eastern Washington, gineus, resembling iron rust in color) Rough­ southern Alberta, and southern Saskatchewan legged Hawk, and B. lagopus (from the Greek south to eastern Oregon, Nevada, northern lagos, hare, and pous, foot, or hare-foot) the and southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, north American Rough-legged Hawk. The confusion central Texas, western Oklahoma, and western continued, however, and subsequently the ref­ Kansas (American Ornithologists' Union 1983). erence to "feathered tarsi" was dropped for B. Wintering from Montana through southern regalis. It is Simply known now, in reference California to northern Mexico, the species to the rusty brown markings on this othcnvise occasionally reaches the arid highlands ofcen­ light-colored bird, as the Ferruginous Hawk. tral Mexico (Peterson and Chalif 1973, Root A melanistic phase also occurs in the species. 1988, Bechard and Schmutz 1995). As a ,,'inter Some

1210 E"gioem'illg and Sdlmce Beilding, University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown, johnstown, PA 15004.

221 222 GHEAT BASIN NATURALIST [Volum" 59 be"n collcct"d by William Bullock, Jr., or E Lichtenstein rarely published them in connec­ Deppe. Both Bullock and Deppe wem collect­ tion vvith a scientific description (Strcsemann ing natural history specimens in tropical east­ 1954). Even though Falco jerrugineus was an ern Mexico during this time (Strescmann 1954, exception, true to form, Lichtenstei.n failed to Bullock 197]). check the name for availability. Had he done Finally, Andrew Jackson Grayson, an Amer­ so, he perl",ps would have noted that it had ican painter and naturalist, named the species been used previously for another species. Buteo califhrnica based on a specimen collected In 1835 Alexander von Nordman, professor and painted in 1857 nem' San Jose, California of zoology and botany at Odessa Botanical (Grinnell 1932). Institute, Ukraine, USSR (currently part of tl,e Remarkably, both E Deppe and the Bul­ Odessa I. I. Meehnikov State University), had locks, who collected in Mexico at the same described a raptor from Brazil (Nordman 1835), time, met, and Bullock Jr. accompanied Deppe assigning it tlle narne Falco ferrugil1eu~. Ironi­ on a numher of collecting excursions. It is cally, the specimen Nordman made the type of interesting that Deppe, who collected almost his Falco ferrugineus was in fiwt a Tiny Hawk exclusively in Mexico, nonetheless obtained (Accipiter superciliosus), which had been named the type of Lichtenstein's Falco ferruginetts at by Linneaus himself nearly a century earlier Monterey, California, where he (Deppe) spent (Stresemann 1922). As NordnlaIi's :Falco fer­ little time, presumahly occupied in business rugineus was itself a synonym, it also became and preparing to ship out Is it possible that an invalid name. It is interesting, however, he had obtained the hawk at Monterrey, Mex­ that even though ferrugineus \vas dropped from ico, and brought it to California with him as he the scientific name, the COJllmon name has prepared to return to Germany? As a winter remained the Ferruginous Hawk So, when visitor the Ferruginous Hawk might occur in Lichtenstein named the Ferruginous Hawk either ofthese 2 areas. Falco ferrugineus in 1838, based on the speci­ It is also of interest that all 3 collectors men from Monterey, California, the name was involved with naming the l'''erruginous Hawk, preoccupied by 3 yr. Nevertheless, Lichten­ the Bnllocks, Deppe, and Grayson, knew it stein's name was long used in the combination only on its winter range and in areas where, Buteo ferrugineus, as it was 1922 before the even in those days, it must have been uncom­ preoccupation was noted (Stresemann H)22). mon or perhaps a straggler. Since Falco=(Buteo) jerruginel.ls was a syn­ onym of an earlier name, the valid name for NAMING OF THE SPECIES the Ferruginous Hawk had to be the next available. On 24 December 1836 Ferdinand Deppe, a In 1841 a M" John Phillips of Duke Street, German with tics to Heinrich Lichtenstein, London, referred to by Sharpe (1874) as John curator of the Zoological ~,1useum of thc Uni­ Phillips, Esq., but otherwise unknown, donated versity of Berlin, shot a hawk near Monterey, 11 bird skins to the British Museum. The only CaliJ()rnia, which was then part of :Mexico. The information presented with the skins v,ras that specimen was acquired by the Berlin Museum 6 of the group, 1 of which was a raptor, came and Lichtenstein (1830) made it the type of from Real del Monte, Hidalgo, Mexico. Three the species baleo fen'ltgineus. years later C.R. Gray (1844), assistant-keeper During this era the Berlin Zoological in charge of birds, named the single raptor Museum was routinely receiving specimens, Buteo regalis (from the Latin regatis, relating many of which were unique, from collectors to or snitable for a king). Snbsequently, with \vorking throughout the \vorld. As new speci­ the invalidation of Lichtenstein's Falco ferrug­ mens arrived, Lichtenstein gave every species, ineus as a result of Nordman's carlier use, Buteo or what he judged to be a species" a name. regalis became the valid name ofthe species. This was done primarily for his own conve­ The specics was also named Buteo caUji)r­ nience, to give the specimens a distinguishing nica by Grayson in 1857, based on a specimen mark for his personal need, and without con­ hc probably collected in the fall of 1856 near sulting the literature. Although the names San Jose, California (Grinnell 1932). Howev",; \,vere used in Lichtenstein's registers and reap­ as this name follO\ved Gray's Buteo regalis peared on labels of the mounted specimens, (1844), it conld not be valid. Other synonyms 1999J NAMING OF TIlE FERRUGINOUS HAWK 223

(Friedmann 1950) include A"ehhuteo regalis a variety of New World artifacts along with a (1844), Lagopus ferrugi1Wus (1844), Archbuteo few M.exican birds and mammals in a public ferrugi1WUs (1848), Buteo femtgi1Wus (1919), showing entitled "New Spain" (Stresemann and 1livrehisferrugineus (1922). 1954). Bullock and his son, William Bullock, Jr., COMMON NAMES disembarked in the New World at tl,e city of Veracruz. Bullock Sr. desctibed his e.xpcri­ Buteo regalis has been widely known as the ences in the book Six Months ResUlence arul FC1TU~OUS Hawk for more than a century. 1l'avels in Mexico, published in 1824 and re­ McAtec (unpublished microfilm) lists a num­ printed in 1971. It is worth quoting at some ber of other common names used less fre­ length, since his adventures provide insight quently: California Squirrel Hawk, Ferrugi­ into thc difficulty of travel but the apparent neous Buzzard, Cacique, Eagle Hawk, Rusty ease of obtaining scientific specimens in mid­ Hawk (also Banks 1988), Western Rough­ 19th-century Mexico. legged Buzzard, and White-breasted Squirrel The Bullocks soon found that glowing Hawk. Local names, apparently in reference accounts they had read regarding travel in to the dm·k phase, include Black Hawk (U tah); Mexico were gross exaggerations. Following an Black Mexican Eagle, Black Spanish Eagle initial stroll around the Veracruz city square} (Texas); also, Chap Hawk (Alhelta, apparently Bullock states: in reference to thc feathered conditinn of the legs); Chicken Hawk; Gopher Hawk (Mani­ [WJe returned to our hotel, if ..,.nch it deserved to he toba, Kansas); Prairie Eagle (Kansas, Saskatchc­ c..lied, where wo could not even be accommodated with bOOs. With some difficulty I procured a kind of wan, CaliJomia); and Squirrel Hawk (Colo­ bed."tt...... td, on the sacking of which l.l slu.'Ct wa:;: sprc.'ld, rado, New Mexico, Washington. Oregon, and aod over that a small piece of baiza: this constituted California). French nmnes include buse pattue lhe whole furniture of th~ room, which had no win­ couleur de rouille (rust-colored feather-legged dow, but only an opening that communicated Witll a billiard room, whose noisy visitors were alone, sufficient buzzard), buse pattue ferruginense (same as to prevent repose, On preparing to lie down. I discov­ previous), and buse rougeatre (reddish buz­ ered that the solitary sht~et was absolutely wet: yet zard), all reterring to the reddisb or rusty col­ upon making my complaint to the landlord, ht~ replied, oration of the light phase. German and Span­ that be knew it., but that he had no OthCl: I told him ish names refer to its siz.e (Konigsbuzzard [del that wrapping myself in my great coal:, and Silting in a chair all nigbt, would be preferable to such a bed; to Hoyo et a!' 1994], king buzzard; aquililla, small which he rejoined with the utmost sang froid, that he eagle), appcarance (busardo herrumbroso [del thought it would, and left me to pass a sleepless night, Hoyo et aI. 1994], rust-colored buzzard; aquil­ tormented with noise, heat, and mosquitos. ilia patas asperas [Bechard and Schmutz 1995J, rougb-Iegged buzzard or small eagle), or dis­ Bullock Sr., his son, a servant, and a H'ench­ tribution (gavilan serrano, mountain hawk). man soon departed Veracruz for Jalapa, a dis­ tance ofapproximately 100 km. The surround­ COLLECTORS AND TAXONOMISTS ings were inhospilahle and travel was slow; it took them 4 days to make the journey. Ihward The Bullocks the end ofthe 1st day they stopped Mexim's independence rrom Spain in 1821 oon~isting f~w made it possible for Europeans to settle in to take some refreshment al a place ofa huts, called Santa Fe; where I shot several hirds, Mexim and to send parcels home. As early as among them the creste.:l Mcadow-L'lrk of America, a 1823 William Bullock, Sr., went to Mexim to, large and fine bird for the table: these were as lame a... in his words, "acquire scientific information" fowls in the poultry-yard. nlmugb the rest of the eve­ (Bullock 1971). Bullock, a London goldsmith nin~ the birds, bares, &c. were very numerous, and we might. easily have killed sufficienl for ll.large party. and owner ofthe "London Museum," a private The hares are very small: considerahly less than our collection ofboth art and natural history pieces rabbits, hut in other respects like our own. The c()un~ (which, prior to his travels, he had been f()rced try, loo. began to be improved by veget'ation before we to dispose of through an auction to sati,iY credi­ arrived at San Ratael, where we were to p;.\Ss tho night. tors), collected widely in addition to securing (Jere we found ncnrly as good 8I1 inn as any on the TO<.ld, and a descriplion of it and our treatment, may some mining interests while in Mexico. Return­ serve ,lS specimen... of the whole, no doubt to the sur­ ing to London at the end of 1823, he exhibited prise of tllose who have believed what some writer'S, 224 GHEAT BASIN NATUHALIST [Volume 59

lIot travellers, have asserted reslx-~ding the ample of good reputation could accompany him an:omrnodulions to he found in these pm"ts, The (Stresemann 1954). Heinrich Lichtenstein, Posada, IS a large shed thatehed \\lith leaves or reeds, partly enclosed, like a hinI-cage, and freely admitting director of the Zoological ]Vluseum of Berlin tlw air:-so little harricaded as to allow whatever University, recommended f'tlrdinand Deppe, passes within to he seen from without;-and the roof \vha was at the tirne a gardener with the Hoyal projedion vcr), considerably (lver the sides. Under Gardens but had a close assodation with the this projection, and in the open air, several travellers Zoological Museum. Deppe gave up his Job in had bid themselves down for the night Our baggage was placed in the interior: and when we inquired where 1821 and prepared for the voyage to Mexico we were to lodge, we were concluded to the same by perfecting bird and rnammal skinning tech­ place, and told that unless we had beds of our own we niques, studying English and Spanish, and must repose on the floor; indet~d nothing was furnished reading extensively on the zoology, botany, but shelter fi"Otn the min, and Indian eom kJf the cattle. and geography of South America. The Couut, For ourselves, we with difficulty procured some planks on which to phcc our mattresse!:', and aher making cl apparently in no hurry to leave, delayed their scanty meal of what \ve had hrought, f~lr had "vater voyage for 3 yr when finally, at the insistence and a littlc bread were all the house alforded, we pre­ ofDeppe, they at last departed, reaching Lon­ pared to go to rest, hoping that the btiguc we had don iu Angust 1S24. An extended delay allowed gone through would ad as a SOIXlriflc. Several persons of both sexes, \vith some children, were in the same Deppe an opportunity to visit Bullock's Mexi­ room \vith us, in a sort of galler}' that projected over can show, the British Museum, and private the enclosure. Our mules and those of other travellers shops dealing in I\·lexican specimens. wore fi\stened on the outside, while numerous dogs Departing England in October, the group helonging to the house, us well as those attached to reached Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico, in mid­ the different conveyances of the trave]]er.~, were min­ gled \vith tlwir masters, and kept up such a barking as December. Apparently not able to gct along, to render sleep impossible. \Ve had horses dose to our the Count and Deppe separated in May 1825, heads, eating Indian corn; the mules kicking and flght­ with Deppe completing the remainder of the ing; the muleteers cursing: intolerable and suftocuiing expedition at his O"V]1 risk During the 2 yr of heat; braying of asses; singing and stinging of mosqui­ his initial j\lexican collecting stint, he traveled tos, and the hiting of myriads of Ilea.s completed the comforts of what has been called an inn. How did I to Mexico City and back to Veracruz, where pray fl:J1' it gluss of water to moisten my parched ,md on the return trip, Deppe made the acquain­ feverish lips; how did I long for an l':nglish harB or tance ofWilliam Bullock, JI:, who had remained hay-loft; either had heen <-l Paradise to such an infenwl in Mexico when his father returned to Eng­ spot. To leave it, hOWCVC1; wO\lld have been to have nm the risk ofheing devoured hy the surrounding dogs. lanel. The pair collected extensively during their Day-light at length brought liS relief; and, dearing our several-month association. :For instance, in the persons fl.·om the deposits of the poultry that had years 1825 and 1826, Deppe alone made 958 roosted over our heads, we reloaded our carriage, and bird skins (representing about 3.15 species) procceded on a better road than hcretof(}re, h'lving in and collected a number of mamnlals, reptiles, some parts heen carried, at considemble labor and cxpense, over morasses which would otherwise have amphihicms, fishes, and snails, thousands of been impassable (Bnllock 1971), insects, and a wealth ofbotanical materiaL Supposedly, all of Deppe's zoological mate­ A number of specimens, including several rials were bought by Lichtenstein and the raptors, were collected beforc thc group Zoologicalc !\-'luseum of Berlin (Streselnann. reached Mexico City, where numerous arti­ 1954). However, in August 1826, William Bul­ f~lcts were added to the gro\ving collection. lock, Sr., who had returned to :Mexico as direc­ Bullock's travels resulted in a book and a col­ tor of a British mining company that he had lection of materials that \-vere the basis of the f(mnded ff)l1owing his 1st visit, joined Deppe London display, both mentioned previously. and Bullock Jr. in Temascaltepec. Hcturning to London in September of that year, Bullock Sr. Ferdinand Deppe took with him many bird skins, and perhaps Accounts of European travelers in Mexico, other materials, which apparently had been upon reaching Germany, excited the curiosity collected cooperatively by the pair (Strese­ of a wealthy nobleman, the Count von Sach, mann 19.54). This was the 2nd time materials "Z-vveiter Obe1'-Jagermeister" and chamherlain collected by the Bullocks \yore carried to to the King of Prussia. Following a successful Great Britain and perhaps the 1st opportunity collecting trip to Egypt and Cyprus, he desired for Deppe to send his materials somew'here to visit Mexico, provided a collecting naturalist other than the Berlin Museum. 1999J NAMING OF TilE FEHRlJGlNOUS HilWK 225

Deppe departed from Vcracruz in April the Zoological Museum (Lichtenstein 1928), 1827 and, although welcomed back to Berlin, which under his care became one of the great­ was not awarded;} hoped-for post 'vith one of est in Europe. Hc also founded the Zoological the scientific institutions of the city. Disap­ Carden in Berlin, which, despite numerous pointed, he returned to Yfexim the fiJllowing ohstacles, succeeded because of his lcader­ year accompanicd by a botanist biend Wil­ ship. The garden bO'Lanimals that tluilled the viewing public by selling zoological and botanical specimens ofthat day (Strescmanll 1.0(0). to European museums and dealers. In the In spite of his many positive attributes, meantime, however, the Berlin Museum had Lichtenstein failed to pay sufficient attention fallen ou bard time' financially, thus making it to detail in his taxonomic activities. He ofteu impo"iblc for Lichtenstein to buy additional coosidered some specimens as "new species" Me).;can materiaL when they were not, while frequently trading Unable to dispose oftheir specimens, Deppe or selling unique specimens as duplicates. lIe and Schiedc were forced to give up collecting never properly studied the vast quantities of in 1830. Sehiede died a ,hort time latc]' and avian study skins sent to the Berlin Museum Deppe, to survive, became a commission by Deppe and othC]·s. Critical examination of agent for merchaats located at Acapulm, Mcx­ this matClial wa.l) left to learned visitors at the ico, 'md Monterey, California. Hi., position took museum and subsequent curators (Stresemann him throughout the westenl and northenl states 1960). Although, as stated previously, he of Mexico until 1836, when, having been assigned scient-We names to numerous speci­ cheated out of all his assets, he decided to mens. only a few were published. Also, he­ return to Germany. On 24 December 1836, cause he failed to check the literature for during his return journey, he collected the availability, his names were often preoccupied, specimen that Lichtenstein made the type of as was the ease with the Ferruginous Hawk. 'Falco ferrugineus near .Monterey, California. His shortco.mings in this area, which have Arriving in Berlin in 1838, he was again been widely critieized, unf()rtunately have over­ denied <111 appointment and died in oblivion in shadowed his many accomplishments. He con­ 1860 (Stresemann 1954). ducted numerous excursions throughout Europe during his lengthy tenure at the University of Heinrich Lichtenstein Berlin and continued, until his death at age 77 Martin Karl Heinrich Lichtenstein was in 1857, as a lecturer of zoology (Stresernann born in Hamburg in Janumy 1780. He studied 1960). mcdicine and received the degree Doctor of Considering Lichtenstein's unv.'ise disposi­ Mcdicille and Philosophy in 1802, following tion of unique .matelials and the destruction of which he traveled to South Ali'ica as the pri­ many specimens during the Second \Vorld vate tutor of the newly appointed governor's \Var, it is forhmate that the type specimen of teenaged son and the fumily's medical atten­ Falco (Buteo)!errugineus, a female "mount" in dant. The governor, anxious to view the f...'Olony good condition, still exists in the Zoological firsthand, explored the area extensively shortly Museum of the present-day Humboldt Uni­ after arriving. Lichtenstein accompanied the versity in Berlin (G. Mal1l'ersberger H)90 pcr­ p;roup as the medical officer and, since he was somtl communic.:'1tion). already an ardent naturJ.list, collected numer­ ""II ERE "'''AS THE DEPPE SPECIMEN COL~ ous specimens and made careful observations LECTED?-For a time it was thought that the throoghout the joumey. The acmunt of his 4 specimen Lichtenstein made the B. !e'1Tu­ }T in Africa is re(.'Orded in his 2-volume work, gineus type was collected at \fonterrey, Mex­ Ttavei.'l-in SoLt/llem Africa (Lichtenstein 1928). ico (Palmer 1988: 407). But Sb-esemann appar­ Upou the cession of the Cape to the Eng­ ently found that Deppe had never been in Ush in 1806, Lichtenstein retumed to Ger­ Monterrey, Mexico; thus, he concluded that many, where he occupied himself with the the type locality must have been Monterey, arnmgemenls of his collections and manu­ California, the site of Deppe's last emhark­ scripts. In 1811 be rec:e.ived an appo.intment as ment for Europe. professor ofzoology at the University ofBerlin. We know that Deppe sailed from Monterey, 1'v.'0 years later he assumed the directorship of California. instead of Veracruz, Mexk'o, as he 226 GREAT BASIN NATlJHALIST [Volume 59 had done on previous trips, because he stopped As a result, the British Museum possessed a in Oahu,tlU\vaii, and joined the renowned well-named collection (Sharpe 1906). American ornithological collector lK. lhwn­ G.R. Gray was born in 1808, educated at send in January 1837. At least 2 of the species the Merchant Tailors' School in London, and represented in their 1837 collection subse­ at an early age assisted Mr. J.G. Children, a quently hecame extinct and are known only keeper at the museum, in the arrangement of fi·oUl their specimens (Olson and James 1994). an extensive collection of insects. He pub­ Stresemann (1954) intended to write a paper lished various works on insects including an dealing with the events of the Hlnvaiian col­ account of species that moe parasitic on other lections, which may have provided additional insects. His "List of the Genera of Birds," inf(Jrmation concerning the collection of the which contained 1065 genera, including the Deppe specimen. Unfortunately, it was not type species on which each genus was founded, was published in 1840. The tornithology from every available source" Meanwhile, a Mr. John Phillips of Duke (Babington et a1. 1872). He appeared to have Street, Adelphi, London, presented 11 bird been intolerant of criticism both in his profes­ skins to the British Museum in 1841. No infor­ sional and private life hut was characterized, mation is available as to hO\\' the skins came perhaps by his brother, as a person of true into Mr. Phillips's possession; at present we heart and a dedicated friend. He died 6 May are not even certain of his identity. Six of the 1872 "t the age of 64 while actively pursuing specimens reportedly came from Real del his work (B"hington et a1. 1872). Monte, Hidalgo, .Mexico, but no collection date Due to the preoccupation of Litchenstein's was hriven. One of the 6 was a Ferruginous }laZeo ferrugineus, Gray's Buteo regaUs, next in

Hawk; it was described as Buteo regalis by order, became the valid. name for the FerruO"i-0 George Robert Gray, an assistant-keeper in nOllS Hawk. charge of birds and a brother to I.E. Gray, A.I. Grayson keeper ofthe Zoological Department for 34 yr. Energetic and dedicated to the building ofthe The species was also named Buteo cal{for­ Zoological Department, lE. Gray was respon­ nica by Andrew Jackson Grayson (Hellmayr sihle for the immense growth of collections and Conover 1949). A color.flJI and eventually during a time when British science otherwise rather tragic figure, Grayson (1818-1869) "vas was underfimded. born and raised in northern Louisiana, but a C.H. Gray, of a much quieter temperament, yearning for the \Vest led him, at age 28, to help organize a wagon train to California. He ,vas totally different from his brother. vVorking reached the Colden State in October 1S46, assiduously, he processed large mnounts of accompanied by his wife and 2-yr-old son. In material in a precise manner. lIe has been 1853 Frances Grayson took her husband to see characterized as a "thoroughly conscientious the recently acquired set of Audubon's «Birds clerk" (Sharpe 19(6). However, he had little of America" at San Francisco's Mercantile knowledge ofbirds in the Held. A story is told Librmy. Grayson \vas enthralled and, although of his suceumhing to the pressures placed he lacked training, determined that he would upon him by others who continually reminded paint all the birds of the Pacific slope un­ him of this deHciency. One day he rented a known to Audubon. Teaching himself to paint, gun ~md went into lIertfordshire to shoot birds, he corresponded \\rith and was encouraged on Promptly arrested by a gamekeeper for tres­ his mission by ornithologists at the Smithson­ passing, he quickly terminated the endeavor. ian Institution. Despite his lack of knowledge concerning Eventually, the Graysons settled in .tvlexico, birds in life, he was imnwllsely acquainted where he painted in earnest, collceted numer­ with bird skins and proper systematic rules. ous specimens that he sent to the Smithsonian, 1999J NAMING OF THE F.i'~lUnJCINOUSHA\.vK ')2,7 and thoroughly dcscribed the avifauna ofSome Nearing Perote, Veracntz, they "sa\:I! several areas, including, at the time, the undIsturbed specimens of eagles, hawks, and other birds of SOCCOl'O Islands. Whilc in Mexico, the Cray­ prey, some of which came so near ow· carriage sons were involved in a vreproductions of Grayson his visit was from March to July, it is unlikely paintings in The Condor. More recently, prints that any of the birds he repnrtedly shot would of all 156 surviving paintings along with a have been terruginolls Hawks. However, the biography and other materials about Grayson younger Bullock and Deppe actively collected have been published in an elegant multi-vol· in the same arca f()r more lhan 2 yr. They col­ ume set, Birds ofthe Pacific Slape (Stone 1986). lected extensively around Mexico City as well Since Grayson undoubtedly knew the Fer­ as the area between Jalapa and the capital ruginous Hmvk in life and was a bona fide Held during various trips. Depending on the route ornithologist, it is unfortunate that his name is tTaveled, they could have passed through not the name f(>r the species. Howevel~ G. R. Hidalgo on one of their journeys from Jalapa Gray's Buteo regalis (1844) has priority because to and from Mexico City as Real del Monte is of its earlier date. only approximately 100 km northeast of the city center. 1n addition, Deppe made several WHO COLLECTED THE excursions nut ofJalapa and could have reached PHll.LlPS SPECIMEN? Real del Monte by traveling 200 km in a northwest direction. Thus, it is likely that they No collector '\-vas listed for the specimen encountered wintering Fenuginolls Hawks that]. Phillips donated to the British Museum dming their travels. and C.R. Gray made the type of Buteo regalis. Although the PhiHips specimen cannot be It is tempting, however, to speculate as to its traced to Deppe and Bullock, as mentioned origin. The Bullocks and Deppe were tbe Ist previously, Bullock Sr., upon his return from collectors ofbirds in Mexico (StresemmUl 1954). his 2nd trip to Mexico, carried a number of It appears from Bullock's writing (Bnllock 1971) specimens with him to England, which had that they amassed a sizeable collection. For been collected by his son while in the com­ instance, on one occasion Bullock Sl~ records pany of F. Deppe. It is also possible that he that he had eolk~cted nearly 200 specimens of took with him specimens that Deppe had col­ hummingbirds alone during the 6 months of lected independently. Stresemann (195,1), how­ his Ist visit (Bullock 1971:273). While travel­ ever, states that the Bullock New Spain exhibit ing to Mexico City in March 1823, Bullock contained only a few birds and mammals reported, "Tbe birds throughout this day's ffiTanged on native plants, What became of the journcy were very tame. and we shot some, rest ofbis sizeable collection? Had it been sold hut as we had no means of preserving them, or placed on consignment in private shops? Was they were lost." During the journey the group the collection still in Bullock's possession but "saw many different species of eagles. numer­ not displayed? Did William Swainson receive ous and beautiful hawks, various crows, oriole, some ofit, or had it at least passed through his cuekoos,-all ofwhich suffered us to appro'lch hands? Even though the answers to these within pistol shot" (Bullock 1971:36-37). questions are not available, it is likely that 228 GREAT BASIN NATURALIST [Volume 59

Mexican specimens collected by the Bullocks Natural History Museum, stated that there were held privately at the time J. Phillips was an active collector for the museum in the made his donation to the British Museum. 18405 by the name of John Phillips. This Also, it is usually thought that the Berlin Phillips was a geologist. When Thackery was Museum received all of the Deppe Mexican told that the Phillips of interest resided on materials, but, as pointed out previously, the Duke Street in the Adelphi section of London, museum was unable to buy all of the Deppe/ he suggested that this would be a likely loca­ Shiede specimens. In au attempt to Hud other tion in which a professor at London University markets at this time, Deppe's brother pub­ might reside. Was John Phillips, geologist and lished lists of available specimens and distrib­ museum collector, the John Phillips who uted them throughout Europe. The number of donated the B. regalis type to the Museum? It specimens disposed of in this effort was appar­ seems likely for the reasons stated previously. ently modest, as the earnings were insufficient John Phillips, geologist, was born 25 Decem­ to support continued c'Ollection. However, some ber 1800. Orphaned at the age of 8, Phillips of Deppe's materials, perhaps including the B. was raised by his uncle, William Smith. Smith, regalis type, were distributed to locations other a geologist of note, was widely known as "tlle than Berlin at this time. father of English geology." Soon after Phillips It is possible that J. Phillips collected the took up residence with his uncle, he developed specimen himself However, as there is no rec­ a keen interest in geology. The boy and his ord ofanyone of that name in Mexico, it safely uncle became inseparable for several years, may be assumed that he was a hobbyist who and Phillips's knowledge of geology and pale­ acquired only a few Mexican birds which he ontology flourished under the tutelage of his later gave to the British Museum. accomplished guardian. Because ofhis achieve­ Although we do not know who collected the ments, while accompanying his uncle on a lec­ Phillips specimen, Mexican specimens col­ ture series to York in 1825, he was offered the lected by the Bullocks and Deppe were likely position ofkeeper of fossils in the York Museum. privately held at the time the Buteo regalis In 1834 Phillips was elected a Fellow of the type was donated to the British :r..1useum. Royal Society and accepted the Professorship Since the Bullocks and/or Deppe did collect of Geology in King's College, London, a post hawks in Mexico, and the whereabouts of he held for 10 yr. His next position was profes­ much of their vast collections cannot be sor of geology at Trinity College, Dnblin. He accounted for, probably 1 of the 3 collected left Ireland in 1853 to join the faculty at the Buteo regalis type. Oxford. A professor of geology at Oxford, he also served as keeper oftbe Ashmolean Muse­ John Phillips um from 1854 to 1870. He published widely The only information available on John not only on geology but also astronomy and Phillips is his address and a reference to him meteorology. John Phillips died at the age of as J. Phillips, esquire. Apparently, he was a 74 as a result ofan accidental fall down a stone professional person who donated a group of staircase. various bird skins to the British Museum. He Was John Phillips, the geologist, the John must have felt his specimens were of value to Phillips who donated the B. regalis type to the the museum but was probably uot an ornithol­ British Museum? The evidence is inconclu­ ogist since there was no pattern to his collec­ sive, but it certainly doesn't rule him out. tion. It is also highly unlikely that he would ,Although some questions remain concern­ have collected such a limited number ofdiverse ing the Deppe and Phillips specimens, events specimens had he visited Mexico and done the surrounding the collection and naming of the collecting personally. So, it appears that John Fernlginous Hawk make an interesting addi­ Phillips was fillniliar \;\lith scientific collections, tion to current literature on this splendid bird. felt that the British Museum would be an appreciative recipient ofhis specimens, but had ACKNOWLEDGMENTS not personally collected the Mexican birds. A check of the 1841 British census failed to I thank D. Amadon, without whose exten­ find a J. Phillips on Duke Street in London. sive help and encouragement this paper would John Thackery, currently an archivist at the not have been completed. M. Walker of the 1999] NAMING OF TIlE FERRUGI:-IOUS HAWK 229

British Museum and G. :vtaurersberger of the Museum or Natmul History. Zoological Series, Field Zoological Museum of Humboldt University Museum ofNatunti History Volume XIII, P:ut T, l\o. 4. hird.~ ~]u[X!: provided information and photographs of the HOWELL, ·1:R. 1987. Review of or the Pacific Andrew Jackson Crayson; with a bio~rClphy of tht: types. w.E. Koberts supplied valuable inlur­ artist and naturalist (1818-1869) hy Lois Chambl·:rs mation on J. Phillips. R. Browning and C.S. Slolle. Auk 104;803-805. Houston provided e,litorial help and S. 01500 LtCIITi::NSTEIN, H. 1839. Page 42-8 in Abhandl Akud. Wiss. infolluation concerning Deppe's work in Berlin (PlIYS.). __".' 1928. 'JhlVcls in southem Africa. Van Rieheeck Ha\\'aii. M. Kreitzbrn"g and B. Alluter, librarians Sudety, Cape lown, South Africa (trAnslation of the at the University of Pittsburgh at Jolmstown, ong:inal2-\'olume work published i;l ] 81 0 and 1812). furnished valuable assistance. B. Anater, R. onDM.'N, A. 1835. P