tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025651162254792506.post3454147370961610757..comments2024-03-24T18:05:27.769+11:00Comments on Ian Fraser, talking naturally: More Classical Animal NamesIan Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01023900823785041354noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025651162254792506.post-73958457924648844842014-04-21T13:07:55.267+10:002014-04-21T13:07:55.267+10:00Thanks for that Jeannie. Yes, the 'coal-black ...Thanks for that Jeannie. Yes, the 'coal-black bodies' was a key piece of information about the Erinyes that I inadvertently omitted! (I've now fixed that in the text.) That is certainly the key point in my opinion re the implication of 'alecto' to the Black Fruit Bats. However it raises the question as to which meaning of Alecto - ie the personal name of Erinye II, or 'black' - came first, and I'll certainly bow to your knowledge on that one. You're of course dead right about the appropriateness of the restlessness tag to flycatchers, but I'm sure that Temminck never saw a live one, so I think your first interpretation was the correct one. Ian Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01023900823785041354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025651162254792506.post-76810763224323536642014-04-21T12:12:39.187+10:002014-04-21T12:12:39.187+10:00Lovely post, Ian. I must say I do find the stories...Lovely post, Ian. I must say I do find the stories behind the names endlessly interesting. And I do like your squabbly Black Fruit bats! But re alecto: the Furies also had "coal-black bodies" and when I was looking at the relatively serene Shining Flycatcher, Myiagra alecto, I took the word to indicate blackness, rather than squabbliness! However, I have since found another meaning for the name: "she who does not rest", which certainly sounds pretty flycatcherish to me!Jeannie Graynoreply@blogger.com