Abstract
On page 188 of the same number[1] of the journal volume in which the above pair of names appeared a corrigendum specifies: ‘P. 163. Line 7, erase the words “brachypterus or”’. This action by Gould's publisher introduced a correction that leaves macrorhynchus as the correct original spelling, and this was also used in the index of the volume. It should be observed that the correction is also consistent with Gould's description ("rostro praegrandi", "bill ... also projects much farther…than in any other species inhabiting Australia"), and with the lack of a comment therein on wing length. Gould (1865: 89) used "brachypterus" (which could be viewed as a First Reviser act under Art. 24.2.4), and Mathews (1912: 282) selected "brachypterus" (which could be viewed as a First Reviser act under Art. 24.2.3), but these later acts are unnecessary and nullified as the precedence of the spelling macrorhynchus is objectively determined under Arts. 24.2.5 and 32.5.1.1 combined with Art. 86.3.
[1] Duncan (1937) dated pages 119–188 ‘July 1841’.
References
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Dubois, A. (2006) Proposed Rules for the incorporation of nomina of higher-ranked zoological taxa in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 2. The proposed Rules and their rationale. Zoosystema, 28 (1), 165–268.
Duncan, F.M. (1937) On the dates of publication of the Society's "Proceedings", 1859–1926. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, [105], 71–83.
Gould, J. (1841[imprint 1840]) Mr. Gould resumed his exhibition of his new species of Australian birds. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 159–165.
Gould, J. 1865. Handbook to the birds of Australia. Vol. 1, London, viii, 636 pp.
ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1985) International code of zoological nomenclature. 3rd edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, xx, 338 pp.
ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1999) International code of zoological nomenclature. 4th. edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, xxix, 306 pp.
Mathews, G. M. 1912. A Reference-List to the Birds of Australia. Novitates Zoologicae, 18, 171–446.
Schodde, R., and I. J. Mason. 1999. Directory of Australian birds. Passerines. CSIRO publishing, Canberra, ix, 851 pp.
[1] A U.S. edition with identical pagination published by Princeton University Press.