The name of the white-eye from Rendova Island (Solomon Islands)

Of the various races of white-eyes that inhabit the central group of the Solomon Islands, the race from the island of Rendova was the first to become known to science. Tristram (1882) recorded this race, which he indentified with Tephras olivaceus Ramsay, described the previous year from the "Solomon Islands", without an exact indication of its type-locality (Ramsay, 1881). Tristram (l.c.) stated that the species was a typical member of the genus Zosterops, and that, consequently, Tephras olivaceus Ramsay became preoccupied by Zosterops olivacea auct. (Certhia olivacea L.) from Réunion. Therefore he proposed the new name Zosterops rendovae, his comment being as follows : "This bird has already been described by Mr. Ramsay ... as Tephras olivaceus, sp. nov. Whether the characteristics of the genus Tephras, as laid down by Hartlaub, are sufficient to separate it from Zosterops may be open to doubt ; but this bird agrees with Zosterops and not with Tephras ... There being already a Z. olivacea, I have felt it necessary to substitute another name for this very interesting species Only a few months later Salvadori (1882) remarked that the species that Tristram had before him when he gave the name Zosterops rendovae, was distinct from Tephras olivaceus Ramsay; but instead of naming the birds recorded by Tristram, he was apparently of the opinion that Z. rendovae could be used for those, whereas he proceeded to give another new name to Tephras olivaceus Ramsay : Zosterops ramsayi Salvadori. It is not to the purpose to follow up the unfortunate series of new names given to Tephras olivaceus Ramsay, but it must be remarked that the use of the name Z. rendovae by Salvadori and many subsequent authors