White-browed Sparrow-weaver head figure from Swainson 1837
White-browed Sparrow-weaver, figure from Smith 1841
White-browed Sparrow-weaver distribution, type locality circled
Introduction
The White-browed Sparrow-weaver was collected and formally described by Andrew Smith, a Scottish surgeon, explorer, ethnologist and zoologist. Smith organised an expedition to the interior and he travelled to near the Botswana border in 1834-35, collecting many new birds, reptiles, mammals and other taxa along the way.
Smith described the White-browed Sparrow-weaver from between the Orange River and the Tropic (Smith 1836) and later he described the locality as 'upon a tree on one of the tributary streams of the great northern branch of the Orange River' (Smith 1841). Smith crossed the Vaal, Modder, Black Modder and the Riet rivers (Smith 1836: 15) on his journey between Thaba Nchu and Philippolis on 4-17 December 1834. From his diary, it is clear that Smith moved east from Thaba Nchu until he reached the Modder River (Oschadleus 2007). He stayed here a few days collecting specimens, including the White-browed Sparrow-weaver, then moved south-east to Philippolis (Kirby 1939).
Macdonald (1957) correctly restricted the type-locality to the Modder River near Bloemfontein. Clancey (1957, 1959) incorrectly changed this to the confluence of the Modder and Riet rivers, because he thought that Smith did not cross the Modder River near Bloemfontein. Clancey based his supposition on the map in Kirby (1940) where the upper reaches of the Modder River are not shown, but he did not read the diary.
The first illustration of a White-browed Sparrow-weaver was published by Swainson 1837, based on a specimen Smith sent to England. The first colour illustration was published by Andrew Smith in 1841 in his well known work, Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, and the White-browed Sparrow-weaver was painted by George Henry Ford.
Scientific citation
Plocepasser Mahali Smith 1836; Rep. Exped. Centr. Africa, p.51; 'country between the Orange River and the Tropic' = Modder River, Thabanchu, South Africa.
Meaning of names
mahali - no explanation given by Smith, not a Latin name, probably based on an African name.
Skead (1967) noted that it was probably named after the Tswana word mogale or Sotho word Mohale which mean a brave or fierce person, suggesting that the bird may be named for its angry scolding.
Weaver Watch
