Spizaetus philippensis, Gould, 1863

Prŷs-Jones, Robert P. & Slater, Clive A., 2023, The correct authority for the name Spizaetus philippensis, and the status of its type specimens, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 136-138 : 137

Spizaetus philippensis

Gould 1863 Birds of Asia, pt 15, in text to pl 10 labelled Spizaetus alboniger . HOLOTYPE, Adult. Reg. no. 1955.8(sic, should be 6).N.20.423. Philippines. Gurney collection ex Verreaux. The paratype mentioned in the description 1955.8(sic, should be 6).N.20.424 is also in the collection.’

This text is also shown in the NHMUK online bird types catalogue https://www. nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/scientific-resources/collections/zoological-collections/typespecimens-of-birds/index.html (accessed 1 December 2022). However, treatment of the two specimens 1955.6.N.20.423 and 424 as holotype and paratype, respectively, rather than as syntypes appears unjustified. In the original description, although Gurney described what he referred to as an ‘adult female’ (now NHMUK 1955.6.N.20.423) first and in greater detail, his remarks on ‘the second and apparently less adult specimen’ (now NHMUK 1955.6.N.20.424) follow directly on and are perfectly adequate, stressing its overall similarity to the first while flagging relatively minor points of difference in crest development, colour and markings ( Gould 1863). Here and subsequently (e.g., Gurney 1877), he appears to have been in no doubt in presenting both equally as exemplars of his new taxon.