tapacolo

English

Etymology

Originally a misspelling by Charles Darwin. Darwin's journals were sufficiently influential that this spelling became adopted by many naturalists.

Noun

tapacolo (plural tapacolos)

1. Alternative form of tapaculo
   • 1839, Charles Darwin, The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle:

     The Tapacolo frequents hedge-rows, and the bushes which are scattered at a considerable elevation over the sterile hills, where scarcely another bird can exist: hence it plays a conspicuoous part in the ornithology of Chile.

   • 1916, Bulletin of the Pan American Union - Volume 42, page 83:

     The typical slaty finch of Santa Isabel and two species of honey creepers were by far the commonest, followed by a small, slaty tapacolo.

   • 1917, American Museum of Natural History, The American Museum Journal, page 163:

     Birds were more abundant than at Villa Nougués, but the tapacolo was not forthcoming.

   • 1965, American Geographical Society of New York, Soviet Geography: Review & Translation:

     The llamas, mice of the genera Nyctomys and Chinchillula, and the tapacolo bird (Scytalopus) are typical residents of the mountain Andean province.

   • 1980, The Encyclopedia Americana - Volume 26, page 278:

     Tapacolos are stocky birds 4½ to 10 inches ( 11 - 25 cm ) long with short rounded wings and powerful legs and feet.

Usage notes

Because of its deviation from the Spanish, some people consider this form a misspelling.