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Show 692 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON A N E W SPECIES OF DOVE. [Nov. 21, PLATE LXXII. Fig. 1. Cucumaria saxicola, about twice the natural size. (Taken from a specimen contracted by preservation in spirit.) 2. Portion of skin of the same with spicules in situ. X 210. 3. Spicules from body of the same. X 210. 4. Transverse view of foot of the same. X 84. 4. Description of a new Species of Dove from the Coral-reef of Aldabra. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D. F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. [Eeceived October 27, 1871.] (Plate LXXIII.) In my report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie for June last* I recorded the arrival of a pair of Doves, presented to the collection by Mr. Edward Newton, and brought home for us by Sir Henry Barkly on his return to this country from Mauritius. Mr. Newton informed me that these Doves were procured for him by Mr. Swinburne Ward, when he visited the coral-reef of Aldabra in 1868, and were believed to belong to an undescribed species. Aldabra Island lies in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar, in about 9° 26' S. lat. and long. 46° 35' £. Upon announcing the arrival of these birds I proposed for them the temporary designation Turtur aldabranus, under which name I now propose to describe this interesting species, as follows :- TURTUR ALDABRANUS, sp. nov. (Plate LXXIII.) Supra brunneus unicolor, capite toto cum collo undique vinaceo perfusis : colli postici plumis nigris vinaceo terminatis, tanquam squamatis: subtus cineraceus, usque ad medium pectus vinaceo perfusus, ventro medio crissoque albis : alarum remigibus cine-raceo- brunneis, unicoloribus: caudce rectricibus duabus mediis omnino et proximis in pogonio exteriore brunneis dorso concoloribus : ceteris omnibus nigris, limbo unciali lactescenti-albo terminatis : subalaribus cineraceis : rostro plumbeo, apice flavicante, pedibus carneis: long, tota 10*5, alee 5*75, caudce 3'9, tarsi 1*1 poll. Angl. et dec. Hab. Insula Aldabra. Obs. Proximus Turturi rostrato ex ills. Seychellensibus, a quo uropygio et rectricibus mediis brunneis,/hec cineraceis, et rostro de-biliore diversus: differt a Turture pldurato capite vinaceo nee cinereo. The pair of this Dove which Mr. Newton sent us were in good health; but the hen had an injured wing, which prevented her from flying off the ground. Notwithstanding this, when placed in the large Western Aviary they quickly showed symptoms of breeding, * See antea, p. 623. |
