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Show 18/1.] ON BIRDS FROM THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 31 yellow margins at the ends of the coverts of the secondaries are broader and form a distinct cross line; the white end-portion of the tail-feathers is washed at the outer web and apex with green; bill and feet brown. rostr. rostr. dig. Long. tota. alae. caud. a front, a rict. tars. med. ung. c. 8" 5" 0"' 3" 1'" 5|'" 8!'" IU'" 9'" 3'" (ad.) - 4 7 28 5 7! 11 9 - (jun.) In our work on the birds of Central Polynesia, we have already shown that the different groups of islands in the Pacific are inhabited by different species of the genus Ptilinopus, which, resembling each other at first sight very much, nevertheless exhibit constant characters to distinguish them with certainty, as pointed out in our monograph of the Polynesian species of Ptilinopus. Since this monograph was written, we have declared the Ptilinopus of the Pelew group (our Pt. pelewensis, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 7) to be a distinct species; and now we have again occasion to introduce a Ptilinopus from the Cook's islands as new. Pt. rarotongensis is most nearly allied to Pt. chrysogaster, Gray, from Huaheine (Society's Islands), but may be distinguished at once by the dark red pectoral patch, which in Pt. chrysogaster is wanting. Besides, this latter species has the forehead and vertex pale rose, and the secondaries and upper quill-coverts are shining blue-green, with broad yellow margins. Pt. roseicapillus, Less. (Pt. purpureocindus, Gray), from the Mariannes, also resembles it in possessing a red patch on the middle of the breast, but is otherwise quite different, the whole upper surface of the head being red as well as a patch on the base of the lower mandible ; lower breast green, remainder of underparts orange. With the other species (Pt. fasciatus from the Vitis and Navigators, Pt. porphyraceus from Tonga, &c), Pt. rarotongensis cannot be confounded. The green of its plumage shows none of the metallic or coppery lustre observed in most of the other species. W e may remark that Mr. G. R. Gray has already published a Pt. chalcurus (B. of the Tropical Isl. of the Pacific, 1859, p. 37), founded on a specimen in the British Museum, said to be from the Hervey or Cook's archipelago. So far as can be told from the very short diagnosis ("much resembling Pt. coralensis, Peale, but front and vertex shining greyish purplish"), this so-called species has nothing whatever to do with our Pt. rarotongensis. 4. CARPOPHAGA PACIFICA (Gml.). A young bird, resembling the young males from Savai described above, but having the underparts, instead of vinaceous, of a faint dirty ochre-brownish tinge, darker on the vent, the under tail-coverts lighter chestnut, base of bill without knob. 5. ACTITIS INCANUS (Gml.). One specimen in winter plumage. |