OCR Text |
Show 1877.] BIRDS OF TONGATABU, FIJI, ETC. 741 2. HALCYON VENERATUS, Gm. Halcyon veneratus, Sharpe-, Mon. Kingf. p. 245, t. No. 548. Tahiti. Male. 549. „ „ 550. » 551- „ 552. „ 553. ,, Female. 554. „ 555. „ 556. „ tL Th* excellent series before me does not confirm tbe view that either the dark band across the breast, or the more bluish green, or the duller brown coloration of the upper parts is peculiar to a certain state of age or sex All are apparently old specimens, and show every gradation in these characters. The dull brownish tone passing into verdigris prevails in most of the specimens ; only No. 5, 548 (male), and 554 (female), are more of a greenish-blue, especially on the head and wings; these specimens have no dark breast-band, this being only faintly shown by rusty tips of the feathers. No. 551 (male) has scarcely any indication of a breast-band (resembling, therefore, the right-hand figure on Sharpe's plate). In No. 5, 550 (male) and 552 (male) the breast-baud is on a rusty ground-colour, speckled with blackish, in the remaining specimens more or less of a brownish black. The length of " wings," varies from 3" 3'" to 3" 7'". Mr. Layard enumerates H. veneratus, from Tonga (P. Z. S. 1876, p. 501), but probably obtained the specimen here. 3. PTILONOPUS PURPURATUS (Gm.) Ptilonopus purpuratus, F. &. H. Orn. Central-Polyn. p. 122. No. 557. Tahiti. Male, 558. „ Female. " Feet violet; eyes orange; bill green at the base, tip yellow." -J.M. I am pleased to have an opportunity of examining the Ptilonopus of the Tahiti group, which is so rare in collections; and as the description given in the 'Ornithology of Central Polynesia' (being copied from Peale) turns out to be incorrect in some points, I think it necessary to give a new one. Male. Front and vertex delicate purplish-lilac, forming a pale and, not as usual in the members of this genus, circumscript head-cap ; remainder of head, neck, and under surface ashy-grey with only a very faint greenish tinge, more visible on the middle of the breast and vent; throat-feathers bifurcate in the centre tinged with pale dull yellow-greenish ; lower vent whitish, under tail-feathers citron-yellow ; tarsal feathers ashy-grey; back, wings, and tail bright grass-green ; on the mantle and shoulders with a bronzy shine under certain lights ; remiges slaty black on the outer webs, tips dark |