Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia. 
124 
MEROPS : G. and L. for a bird that was supposed to be a bee-oater. Vergil 
(Georgic, IV., 15) advises bee-farmers to keep the merops away from the 
hives, and Aristotle centuries before speaks of the bird seizing bees on its 
swallow-like flight. 
MESOCALIUS OSCULANS : The original name misocalxus oscillans has been 
badly treated, and its derivation obscured. Misocalius (G. misos, hatred, 
calia, nest), hater of nest (making), is a good name for a cuckoo. Oscillans , 
L. = oscillating or swinging between two other types, and, written carelessly, 
might easily be taken for osculant (L. kissing). 
MIRAFRA : L. minis, wonderful, and Afra feminine of Afer, of Africa, the 
“ stronghold of the genus. *’ 
MONARCH A : This name may have suggested itself to Vigors and Horsfield 
when they found that these flycatchers had something in common with the 
Tyranni (sometimes called Kingbirds), and were “inclined to place it in the 
sub-family of Tyrannina see Tyrannula. 
MOTACILLID>E : L. motartUa is said to be an “exact rendering” of English 
wagtail. Mot (L. moveo, I move) is a well-known root, but the word signifying 
tail is obscure. It might here be mentioned that seisura is the Greek 
equivalent, sets, root of seisin , to shako (setsmos = earthquake), and oura 
(ura ), tail. 
MYIAGRA : G. myia , fly, and agra, catching, Pronounce my-i-ag-ra. The 
word is a Greek translation of L. muscicapa — musca , fly, and capers , to catch. 
MYRISTICIVORA : Nutmeg-eating. Myristica insipida is the native nutmeg 
on which this pigeon feeds largely and L. vorare , to eat. 
MYZANTHA : G. myzein, to suck, anthos , flower. 
MYZOMELA : G. myzein , to suck, welt, honey. 
NECTAR1NIID/E : N ectarinvs, adjective, from G. nectar , nectaros , nectar. These 
birds have been called Sunbirds for at least 100 years—being so named, 
according to Swainson, by the natives of Asia in allusion to their splendid and 
shining plumage, but he does not mention the nation or language. 
NETTA : G. necho , I swim. 
NINOX : L. nox night; but ? meaning of ni. Perhaps the word was invented by 
Hodgson “ to indicate its dissimilarity from Noctua 99 (Langton). 
norfolciensis means belonging to Norfolk Island. It was given to the pigeon by 
Latham apparently through a mistake. The bird i 3 not found on the island. 
N0T0PH0YX = Southern heron. G. notos, southern (south wind), and phoyx, a 
waterbird mentioned by Aristotle. 
NUMENIUS : G. noumenios, curlew, is derived from G. neos , new, and mene , moon, 
from the bird’s crescent-shaped bill. Curlew and Whimbrel are both onoma¬ 
topoeic names. 
NYROCA : Latinized from Russian name of a duck, nyroJc, first published in 1770. 
So Casarca is Latinized from a South Russian name for goose. 
-oides, -odes : The3e terminations come from the Greek eidos — form, and are 
equivalent to the English word—like ; Coronoides , raven-like, slrigoides 
= owl-like, galactodes = milk-like ; -ides, in names of Families and other 
names is what is called a patronymic, and means “ descended from.” 
OPOPSITTA : A strange error for the correct original spelling Cyclopsitta. G. 
cyclops, roundfaced, psitta , parrot. 
OREOCINCLA : Oreo- is from G. oros, oreos, mountain, also in Oreoica and 
Oreoscopus. 
ORIGMA: Probably from Gk. orugma, cave; the spelling Orygma once used would 
be more correct. 
0RI0I.US: New Latin from Old French oriol and L. aureolus golden ; aurum, gold ; 
the first bird to receive the name being of a golden colour. 
