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Show 1874.] SPECIES OF FRUIT-PIGEON. 93 Long. rostr. rostr. dig. tot. alae. caud. a front, a. rict. tars. med. ung. 12-20 6-70 4-90 75 1-15 1-20 '95 -35 (poll. Angl.). Hab. Island of Rapa or Opara, South Sea. The unique specimen of this bird was forwarded to m e through the kindness of m y friend Capt. F. W . Hutton, now Professor of Natural History and Geology in the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, after w h o m I have the pleasure of naming it. The specimen is marked in the collector's handwriting "female." It may be expected that the male would exhibit a somewhat brighter coloration, although we know that in the members of the genus Ptilonopus the plumage of both sexes is nearly exactly alike. Pt. huttoni is one of the most extraordinary Ptilonopi known. In the pattern of its coloration it shows some resemblance to Pt. roseicapillus, Less. (Pt. purpureocinctus, Gray), and Pt. mercieri, having, as in these species, a red spot on the base of the lower jaw; but it is easily distinguishable from all the other Polynesian Fruit- Pigeons by its pale purplish-red chin, and the extraordinarily large pectoral patch of dark purplish violet. But far more than by these peculiarities of colours, Pt. huttoni is distinguished by its large size and the unusually long and strong bill, as will be seen in the accompanying drawing of the head, of its natural size. The bill, in- Head of Ptilonopus huttoni. deed, differs very much from that of the typical Ptilonopi, and resembles rather that of the true Columba, but is still more elongated and slender. The first primary shows the peculiar attenuation on the terminal portion; and the two basal thirds of the tarsus are feathered, as in true Ptilonopus; the tail is proportionally longer, even at the end, and has 14 rectrices. The island of Rapa, erroneously called on our maps Opara, is situated in 27|° S. latitude, and 144° W . longitude, about 700 miles S.E. of the Society group, and some 40° S. of the tropic of Capricorn, and as nearly as possible two thirds of the distance between Panama and Wellington. It was first discovered by the English navigator Vancouver, and is now under the protectorate of the French. During the time when a direct steamer-line was running from Panama to N e w Zealand, it was selected as a coal-station and port of call, possessing a harbour. A full account of the island has |
