Psittacula Eques Bird

English Name:  Echo Parakeet
Latin Name:  Psittacula eques
Protonym:   TablePlanchesEnlum. p.13
Taxonomy:  Psittaciformes / Psittaculidae / Psittacula
Taxonomy Code:  maupar1
Type Locality:  
Author:  Boddaert
Publish Year:  1783
IUCN Status:  Vulnerable

DEFINITIONS

PSITTACULA
(Psittacidae; Ϯ Red-breasted Parakeet P. alexandri) Mod. L. psittacula  little parrot, parakeet  < dim. L. psittacus  parrot  < Gr. ψιττακος psittakos  parrot; "Perruches ...... Psittacula." (Cuvier 1800); "As an item of importance to extra-limital workers, I might notice that Opinion No. 39 legitimatises Cuvier's Psittacula, and this is quite different to the genus now so called and is antecedent to Palæornis. Thus Psittacula Cuvier was provided for Les Perruches, and as examples in the Leçons are cited P. alexandri and P. rufirostris. These, as understood by Cuvier, were congeneric and are typical Palæornis of Vigors. I have already indicated that Conurus Kuhl was typified by Lesson by Palæornis and should displace it. At the present time Psittacula Cuvier will replace Conurus, while Palæornis must altogether disappear.  Apparently for the South American Parrots now termed Psittacula, Boie's genus name Forpus will come into use" (Mathews 1917).
Var. Petacula.
Synon. Alexandrinus, Belocercus, Belurus, Himalayapsitta, Nicopsitta, Palaeornis, Sagittifer.
● (syn. Agapornis Ϯ Grey-headed Lovebird A. canus) "2. Perruche a teste Grise, BUFF. XI. p. 240.  Psittacula Madagascariensis, BRISS. Ornith. IV. p. 394. pl. XXX. 2.  LINN. Gen. o.  grey headed Parrakeet. LATH. birds I. p. 315. n. 122" (Boddaert 1783).
● (syn. Brotogeris Ϯ Plain Parakeet B. tirica) "LA PETITE PERRUCHE DU BRÉSIL.  ...  PSITTACULA BRASILIENSIS" (Brisson 1760); based on "Tui tirica" of de Laët 1633, Marcgrave 1648, Willughby 1676 and Ray 1713.
● (syn. Cyclorrhynchus Ϯ Parakeet Auklet C. psittacula) Specific name Alca psittacula Pallas, 1769; "Tablica L.  ...  {poteżnie ściśniony  {z gòry i z dołu wypukły, w pół háczykowaty.  3. Staryk.  Psittacula.   ...   RODZÀY III. (193.)   STARYK.  .PSITTACULA.   Parkittaucher, Niem.   ...   Dobrze rozróżnionych náleży do tego rodzaiu trzy gatunki (Alca Psittacula, Alca cristalla i Alca tetracula. GL.)" (Jarocki 1821) (Laurent Raty in litt.).
● (syn. Forpus Ϯ Green-rumped Parrotlet F. passerinus) "PSITTACULA.  Psittacula*,  Cuv., fide Ill. Prodr. Mamm. et Av. p. 200 (1811); Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. p. 8 (1820). . . .Type P. passerina.  ...  *Psittacula is often attributed to Brisson, who, however, did not use it generically" (Salvadori 1891).

psittacula
Mod. L. psittacula  little parrot, parakeet  < dim. L. psittacus  parrot  < Gr. ψιττακος psittakos  parrot (cf. < dim. genus Psittacus Linnaeus, 1758, parrot).

eques
L. eques, equitis  cavalryman (e.g. with epaulets)  < equus  horse (cf. aeque  alike, equally  < aequus  like, equal).
● ex “Gobe-mouche à poitrine orangée de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 831, fig. 1, and “Gobe-mouche à poitrine orangée de Guyane” of de Buffon 1770-1786 (?syn. Pachyramphus sp.).
● ex “Figuier cendré de la Caroline” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 731, fig. 1, and “Figuier cendré à collier” of de Buffon 1770-1785 (syn. Parula americana).
● ex “Psittaca Borbonica torquata” of Brisson 1760, “Perruche à collier de l’Île de Bourbon” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 215, “Perruche à double collier” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Double-ringed Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (‡Psittacula).

SUBSPECIES

Echo Parakeet (eques)
Latin Name: Psittacula eques eques
eques
L. eques, equitis  cavalryman (e.g. with epaulets)  < equus  horse (cf. aeque  alike, equally  < aequus  like, equal).
● ex “Gobe-mouche à poitrine orangée de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 831, fig. 1, and “Gobe-mouche à poitrine orangée de Guyane” of de Buffon 1770-1786 (?syn. Pachyramphus sp.).
● ex “Figuier cendré de la Caroline” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 731, fig. 1, and “Figuier cendré à collier” of de Buffon 1770-1785 (syn. Parula americana).
● ex “Psittaca Borbonica torquata” of Brisson 1760, “Perruche à collier de l’Île de Bourbon” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 215, “Perruche à double collier” of de Buffon 1770-1785, and “Double-ringed Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (‡Psittacula).

Echo Parakeet (echo)
Latin Name: Psittacula eques echo
echo
Gr. myth. Ekho or Echo, a woodnymph who could only imitate the last words she had heard. Newton & Newton 1876, wrote of the Echo Parakeet, “Here it is to be remarked that the specific term eques, conferred by Boddaert on the subject figured in the ‘Planches Enluminées’ (No. 215), properly belongs to the Parrakeet of Réunion - the bird there represented being called ‘Perruche de l’île de Bourbon ’, whence De Buffon (Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p.144) expressly says it was brought, identifying it also with the ‘Perruche à collier de l’Ile de Bourbon ’ of Brisson (Orn. iv. p.328, pl. xxvii, fig.1), who likewise states that it is found there. It now no longer inhabits Réunion, and whether a specimen from that locality anywhere exists is not known to us. Judging from the general dissimilarity of the avifauna of that island and of Mauritius, we should be inclined to suppose that each had its peculiar Palaeornis [=Psittacula ]; and, in the event of this being found to be the case, we would venture to suggest the term echo † being applied to the Mauritian bird, which, no doubt, answers in nearly all particulars to the true eques ... [footnote] † Ήχω, nympha quaedam, imitatrix equitis - sc. Narcissi. Ov. Metam. iii. 380” (syn. Psittacula eques).