Sapphic Hummingbirds

The first thing that comes to mind when one hears “Lesbia nuna” is the word lesbian, and, in fact, this isn’t an accident. We, however, have to dig a bit deeper and talk about a different species first: Sappho sparganurus.

This species was first described by British naturalist George Kearsley Shaw in 1812General zoology, or Systematic natural history under the binomial name Trochilus sparganurus. The genus Sappho was introduced later, in 1850, by zoologist Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig ReichenbachThe linked page is supposed to show the genus Sappho in the original book, but is empty in the scanned document. Die vollständigste Naturgeschichte der Vögel. Sappho references Sappho of Lesbos, a greek poetess known for her love poems directed to her female pupils. Her name gives origin to the term “sapphic”Of love or attraction between women. Not necessarily the same as lesbian. , and from her place of birth (Lesbos, a Greek island) comes the term “lesbian”. This generic name is taken from the specific name Ornismya sappho, coined by René Primevère Lesson in 1828.

This is where Lesbia nuna comes into play, as this species was first described by Lesson himself in 1832Histoire naturelle des colibris : suivie d'un supplément à l'Histoire naturelle des oiseaux-mouches : ouvrage orné de planches dessinées et gravées par les meilleurs artistes : et dédié A.M. le Baron Cuvier. In the original book he gives it the binomial name Ornismya nuna, where “nuna” refers to Nouna-Koali, an Indian virgin from an 1829 novel. Nonetheless, in every reference I’ve been able to find, the current name is also attributed to Lesson in the same year. It’s possible that the generic name Lesbia could have been proposed a year later by the same author, but the references to that possibility are no longer available.

In any case, the very first time Lesson describes this species he compares it to Sappho sparganurus. Translated from the original FrenchWith machine translation. I don’t know enough French to translate a text like this. :

The Nouna-Koali must be placed near the Sappho hummingbird—by virtue of its physical attributes, the arrangement and shape of its tail, and, above all, the resemblance of its plumage. It bears the name of an American maiden whose touching memory will endure among lovers of literature, thanks to the delightful charms with which the pen of our friend Ferdinand Denis chose to embellish her story.

It never mentions the generic name Lesbia nor the reason behind its choosing, but it seems like the current scientific names of both Sappho sparganurus and Lesbia nuna ultimately have their origins in Lesson. I don’t know why he chose to call these two hummingbirds these specific names, though I doubt it was on accident.

1. ↑ The linked page is supposed to show the genus Sappho in the original book, but is empty in the scanned document.
2. ↑ Of love or attraction between women. Not necessarily the same as lesbian.
3. ↑ With machine translation. I don’t know enough French to translate a text like this.

1. ↑ General zoology, or Systematic natural history
2. ↑ Die vollständigste Naturgeschichte der Vögel
3. ↑ Histoire naturelle des colibris : suivie d'un supplément à l'Histoire naturelle des oiseaux-mouches : ouvrage orné de planches dessinées et gravées par les meilleurs artistes : et dédié A.M. le Baron Cuvier