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Show 1869.] BIRDS FROM THE TONGA ISLANDS. 547 7. APLONIS TABUENSIS, Gm.; Finsch et Hartl. /. c. p. 103. Three specimens. Not different from our description. The lanceolate feathers of the head have a distinct purpurescent or copper-coloured glitter, which varies under a certain light into green; the dirty-white shaft-stripes of the under parts not-very distinct. The wings are a little longer than in Viti birds. " Iris yellow." Long. al. caud. rostr. tars. dig med 4»l"'-4"2'" 2"l'"-2"3'" 7^-9"' llf-13'« 9" 8. PTILINOPUS PORPHYRACEUS (Forst.); Finsch. et Hartl. I. c. p. 119 (fid. Forster). Four specimens. Ad. Pileo leete et circumscripte purpureo-violascente, diluto flavo circumdato, mento gulaque media pallide flavis; capite reliquo, collo toto, interscapulio, gutture, pectore et epigastrio pallide cano-virentibus, plumis basi cinereis ; epigastrii plumis apice distincte flavescentibus; dorso, tergo, uropygio, tectricibus alarum et caudee psittacino-viridibus ; remigis primi parte apicali valde attenuata tota nigra, reliquis pogonio externo obscure virentibus; secundariis distinctius viridibus, poyonio externo nonnihil aureo-fuscescentibus, limbo marginali externo strictissimo flavo; omnium pogoniis internis dilute cinereis; scapularibus pogonio externo apiceque viridibus, 3-4 ultimis macula anteapicali latiuscula ceerulescenti-viridi; macula abdominis medii obscure violacea, lateribus viridi-flaventibus, abdomine imo crissoque flavis ; subcaudalibus flavis, apice aurantiacis ; subalaribus dilute cinereo viridique variis; rectricibus mediis viridibus, lateralibus pogonio interno nigris, omnibus apice late canis, limbo apicali ipso virente ; cauda subtus obscure grisea, apice late albida ; rostro plumbeo, apice pallidiore ; pedibus grisescentibus. Long, rostr. a fr. al. caud. tars. 6'" 5" 3"' 2" 3'" 8"' W e describe a fine adult bird. In two others the violet-coloured abdominal spot is wanting, and the apical part of the tail-feathers is of a dirty greenish shade. These two specimens may be females. In a fourth and apparently younger specimen the epigastrium is green, and there are faint traces of a dark green middle spot; vent and under tail-coverts yellow; head and neck more decidedly grey ; chin whitish. Long. al. rostr. a fr. caud. tars. dig. med. 4" 10"'-5" 2"' 5"'-6'" 2" 4"'-2" 7"' 8'" 9'" This rare and beautiful Ptilinopus seems to be confined to the Tonga Islands. The description in our Polynesian Ornithology was copied from Forster, we not knowing the bird by autoptical examination. W e even suspected it not to be different from Pt. fasciatus ; and this species, of some neighbouring groups of islands, the Viti and Navigator's, it really resembles very much. But the PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1869, No. XXXVI. |