倒挂绿毛幺凤:古籍所见“倒挂鸟”考辨

Hanging Little Phoenixes with Green Feathers: a Study of Hanging-upside-down Birds from Ancient Literature

宋代以来,一种名为"倒挂鸟"的美丽珍禽因为羽色艳丽、外形小巧、习性特殊而得到文人雅客的关注和吟咏。文章通过整理古代笔记、方志和诗文中的相关记载,对倒挂鸟的外形、习性、产地等进行了综合分析,认为古籍所载倒挂鸟并非极乐鸟,也不是单指某一种鸟,而是指鹦形目鹦鹉科短尾鹦鹉属的若干种类。古籍中关于倒挂鸟"收香放香"这一奇特习性的描述应是古人观察记录疏漏及文献抄写误传所致。古人所见短尾鹦鹉当既有经海外贸易输入,也有原产于我国南方的种类。或许由于贸易过程中的逃逸,清代时,我国南方地区野外可能出现了域外的短尾鹦鹉。

Since the Song dynasty, because of their colorful feathers, small size and special habits, the beautiful birds called hanging-upside-down birds were discussed by refined scholars. Based on references in old published notebooks, local gazetteers, poems and essays, a comprehensive analysis of the shapes, habits and places of origin about hanging-upside-down birds was conducted. The results show that hanging-upside-down birds were not birds of paradise, and do not refer to one particular type of bird, but included a number of species of hanging parrot of psittacidae of psittaciformes. Wrong observations and records as well as copying mistakes resulted in the description of a peculiar habit--collecting and releasing fragrance--of hanging-upside-down birds. The hanging parrots seen by pre-modern authors may have been imported through foreign trade, or have originated from the south of China. During the Qing dynasty, hanging parrots from abroad may also have spread in the wild areas of the south of China having escaped from captivity.