| OCR Text |
Show 1878.] MR D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 575 Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 115; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. (1876) vol. ix. p. 199. Ptilopus assimilis, Schleg. Mus. Pays-B. 1873, p. 38, Columbce. Hab. Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Australia (Ramsay). This is a race of Pt. magnificus, representing it in the northern part of Australia, and differing mainly in being smaller in size. Whether this is sufficient to constitute a species, I do not propose at present to discuss, but merely to remark that, as in many groups of birds it has been very properly rejected as a specific character, it would seem that, in the present instance, this bird and Pt. magnificus might with advantage be retained under one specific name. Pt. assimilis was procured by Mr. Ramsay, together with Pt. magnificus itself, at Rockingham Bay, North-east Queensland. Except in its smaller size, he found that it presented no differences whatever from Pt. magnificus. He regards it as a connecting link between the large form and the smallest (Pt. puella), of which form he had received a fine pair collected at Cape York, Australia, by Mr. J. A. Thorpe, this being the first instance known to me in which Pt. puella has been obtained in Australia. Head and throat grey; centre of throat and underparts to middle of abdomen rich purple. Under wing-coverts, thighs, and under tail-coverts rich yellow. Back and rump yellowish green. Wing and tail bright grass-green ; wing-coverts with a conspicuous oblong spot at the tip. Total length 14 inches, wing 7, tail 6, culmen 3. The specimen described was obtained at Cape York by the ' Challenger' Expedition. 71. PTILOPUS MAGNIFICUS, Columba magnifica, Temm. Pl. Col. 163; id. Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. xiii. p. 125 (1822); Wagl. Syst. Av. sp. 26 (1827), Columba ; Knip & Prev. Pig. vol. ii. pl. 25 ; Gould, B. Austr. vol. v. pl. lviii. (1848); Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 115. Carpophaga magnifica, Selby, Nat. Libr. Ornith. vol. v. p. 119. Megaloprepia magnifica, Reich. Tauben, p. 101, pl. 283. figs. 1299, 1300. Ptilopus magnificus, Schleg. Mus. Pays-B. 1873, p. 38, Columbce. Hab. South Australia, river Hunter to Moreton Bay (Gould) ; Rockingham Bay, North-east Queensland (Ramsay). Mr. Ramsay states in this journal (Z. c.) that he found this species abundant at Rockingham Bay in North-east Queensland, and very variable in size. Adult. Forehead and chin light grey ; head and neck greenish grey, becoming light green on sides of breast; centre of throat and neck in front, breast, and abdomen deep purple. Lower part of abdomen orange-yellow. Under tail-coverts yellowish green. Wings, back, and tail bright green; wing-coverts with large pale yellow spots, forming a bar across the wing. Bill red at base, tip yellow. Total length 19 inches, wing 9, tail 7, culmen §. |
