Asio = Owl question

[Pat Burden]

Hello Birdchatters,
Since so many of you are scientists and I am not, maybe some of you
have insight on my question.  In preparing to write an article about
Screech Owls, I came across a statement that surprised me.  On the
screech owl page of the website www.owlpages.com, it says: "The origin
of the word "Asio" is unknown, but it came to mean "Owl" in Latin."  
When Linnaeus developed his classification system, how would he have
gone about making up words or names like "Asio" to describe an Owl if
it meant nothing.
Since this has piqued my interest about Linnaeus, and I see there has
been quite a few books and articles written about him, I would be
grateful if anyone has a recommendation as to which book(s) I might
find the most informative and enjoyable to read about him.

Thank you as always,
Pat Burden
Yale, MI

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[Stephen Hult-2]

The word "Asio" is good Latin for a horned owl.  It was used by Pliny the
Elder in his Naturalis Historia about 77 AD.

Stephen Hult
Annapolis Maryland

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Burden" <tallerpat@...>
To: <BIRDCHAT@...>
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 12:56 PM
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Asio = Owl question

> Hello Birdchatters,
> Since so many of you are scientists and I am not, maybe some of you have
> insight on my question.  In preparing to write an article about Screech
> Owls, I came across a statement that surprised me.  On the screech owl
> page of the website www.owlpages.com, it says: "The origin of the word
> "Asio" is unknown, but it came to mean "Owl" in Latin."  When Linnaeus
> developed his classification system, how would he have gone about making
> up words or names like "Asio" to describe an Owl if it meant nothing.
> Since this has piqued my interest about Linnaeus, and I see there has been
> quite a few books and articles written about him, I would be grateful if
> anyone has a recommendation as to which book(s) I might find the most
> informative and enjoyable to read about him.
>
> Thank you as always,
> Pat Burden
> Yale, MI
>
> BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html
> Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html
>

BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html
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