OCR Text |
Show 732 DR. O. FINSCH ON THE [Nov. 6, 10. PTILOTIS CARUNCULATA (Gm.). Ptilotis carunculata, Layard, P.Z. S. 1875, p. 432. No. 47. Matuka. Male. 48. ,, Female. "These birds (the same as Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 15 from Tongatabu) did not appear so common as in Tongatabu, and seem to be rather smaller."-J. M. rostr. a aire. caud. front. in. lin. in. lin. lin. 3 3 2 8 7\ d No. 47. 3 3 2 5 7 2 48. On comparing tbe measurements above given with those of the Tongatabu specimens, Mr. Murray's opinion as to the smaller size of the Fiji birds seems to be confirmed; but a reference to the table of measurements published by me (Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 126), taken from 29 specimens from the Navigators' and Tonga groups (those of the latter series having been sent over in spirits and mostly dissected by myself), will show all gradations of size,Jand the impossibility of separating the Fiji bird on account of its smaller size. In coloration specimens from the Fijis, Tonga, and Navigators' are precisely alike. The occurrence of the true Pt. carunculata on the Fijis (doubted by me, Journ. f. Orn. 1872, p. 36) has been already established by Mr. Layard. According to this gentleman the species is confined to the island of Loma Loma. He endeavours also to introduce a new species (Pt. similis), said to be peculiar to the island of Vanua Levu ; but the short diagnosis (Ibis, 1876, p. 148), " having pale yellowish grey ear-tufts instead of bright golden yellow," seems to me insufficient to distinguish it. Perhaps it will turn out to be P. procerior. Mr. Layard also remarks that in our ' Ornithology of Central Polynesia' we wrongly describe the iris to be white, as it is in fact brown or ashy-brown. As we never had an opportuity of seeing the bird alive, we could follow only the notice of Dr. Graffe, who gave the iris as " white ;" but we also noticed " brown " (Peale), " ashy-grey " (Latham), and "blue-black" (Forster). 11. PTILOTIS PROCERIOR, F. & H. Ptilotis procerior, Orn. Central-Polyn. p. 62, t. v. f. 3 ; Layard, P.Z.S. 1875, p. 431. Nos. 73 and 74. Male. Levuka. This species is well distinguished from the former (P. carunculata) by having no true wattle, but a naked space below the ear-region, surrounded by a blackish line, and by the absence of the yellow moustache, which is always visible in P. carunculata. Through the Museum Godeffroy I have received many specimens for inspection from the following localities :-Ovalau, Vatu Lele, Vanua Levu, and Lavu-savu. Young birds are of a sombre olive, without the yellowish tinge on |