| OCR Text |
Show 1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 537 Ptilonopus mercieri, Gray, List B. Trop. Isl. (1859) p. 36 ; Reich. Tauben, p. 96. Hab. Nuka-hiva, Marquesas Islands. (Type.) A very rare and well-marked species; but one or two examples besides the type in the Paris Museum are, I believe, all that are known in European collections. It resembles in its coloration the last species, but is readily recognized by the red spot on the head at the base of the mandible. Adult. Entire upper part of head and occiput and a conspicuous spot at base of the mandible deep rosy purple. Nape, mantle, sides of neck, throat, and breast pale yellowish green, with a tinge of ash upon cheeks and nape. Abdomen and flanks bright greenish yellow ; crissum and under tail-coverts bright yellow. Back and upper tail-coverts bright green, with a yellowish tinge upon the latter. Wings same colour as the back; primaries black, shaded with very dark green upon the outer webs, the first abruptly and greatly attenuated ; secondaries black on the inner webs, dark green on the outer, and margined with yellow; the innermost ones with a conspicuous blue-black spot near the tips, and margined broadly with yellow. Rectrices smoke-colour at base, the outer webs barred with pale green in the centre, this colour sometimes extending slightly onto the inner web; and all the apical third very light yellow. Bill black with light tip. Feet brown. Total length 9 inches, wing b\, tail 3|-, culmen %• (Description taken from type in Paris Museum.) 15. PTILOPUS ROSEICAPILLUS. Columba roseicapilla, Less. Trait. Ornith. p. 472. sp. 44 (nee syn.) (1831). Le Kurukuru des Mariannes, Less. Compl. Buff. torn. iii. Ois. p. 33 (1837). Ptilonopus pur pur eicinctus, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1853, p. 48, pl. Iv ; id. List B. Brit. Mus. (1856) p. 4. sp. 5 (partim); id. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd ser. vol. xv. (1855) p. 159 ; id. List B. Trop. Isl. (1859) p. 37. Kurukuru roseicapilla, Des Murs & Prev. Zool. Voy. Venus, Ois. p. 259 (1855). Ptilopus roseicapillus, Bon. Compt. Rend. torn. xl. (1855) p. 216. sp. 46; id. Iconog. Pig. (1857) pl. xxii. ; id. Consp. Gen. Av. vol. ii. p. 21. sp. 7. Ptilonopus roseicapillus, Gray, List B. Trop. Isl. p. 37 ; Reich. Taub. p. 96. Ptilinopus roseicapillus, Finsch & Hartl. Faun. Centralpolyn (1867) p. 127. Hab. Ladrone Islands or Marianne Islands. This is a very distinct species, differing in certain particulars from all others known. Besides Lesson's type there are several examples • in the collection of the Paris Museum. It is a rare species, not many examples having been brought to Europe. P R O C ZOOL. SOC-1878, No. XXXV. 35 |
