E. LÖNNBERG, LOXIA HORDEACEA LINNÉ 1758. 3 



ritu; dein siccatus; — cute detracta et farcta 1840». It re- 

 mains since that date stuffed, and labeled: »Ploceus hordea- 

 ceus (Linn.) Loxia hord. Linn. specim. typicum Mus. Drott- 

 ningholm. Av. ex. n:o 2». Although its condition is not 

 very good, the tip of the bill being broken, and some feathers, 

 especially on the face and occiput, missing, its colours are 

 pretty well preserved. It is therefore quite easy to recognize 

 as well that it agrees with the description of Linn.^us, as 

 also that it represents the same species as Etfplectes flammi- 

 ceps SwAiNS., or according to modern nomenclature Pyro- 

 melana jlammiceps . 



As may be seen from the quotations above there is a 

 certain discrepancy between the short diagnose and the fol- 

 lovving somewhat fuller description. In the former we read 



— He^nporihus albis» wliile in the latter it is 



stated : »Nigra sunt Tempora usque ad rostrum» — — — , 

 which latter is quite correct and in full agreement with the 

 specimen. Without doubt this discrepancy depends upon a 

 lapsus calami, and in place of »albis» there should have been 

 »atris». Since Linn^us once had written the diagnose when 

 visiting Drottningholm he had no opportunity to correct 

 the mistake, because most probably he newer saw the bird 

 again. 



This unfortunate mistake has, however, made it more 

 difficult to identify »Loxia hordeacea» from the description. 

 Another fact, viz. that Linn^us described the red parts of 

 this bird as »fulva», and the brownish as »grisea», may have 

 increased the difficulties, because these two words are now- 

 adays, at least often, understood in quite a different sense 

 than that in which they were used by Ltnn.i:us. »Grisens» 

 is f. i. used by Linn^us in Syst. Nat. ed. X to express the 

 general colour of the Wren {Narinus traglodytes), and the 

 colour of the upper parts of the Redbreast (Erithacus rube- 

 cula). It means thus certainiy not pure grey/ but rather 

 a brownish colour. In a similar manner it is easy to find 

 out that in Ltnn^us' writings »fidvus» cannot be made iden- 

 tical with »fawn» as, however, is the case in »Répertoire des 

 Couleurs» by Oberthör & Dauthénay (1. c. p. 55, and pl. 308). 

 On the contrary Linn^us termed with the word »fulviis» a bright 



For grey Linn^us has canus and cinereus. 



