Part 33

Ptilinopus purpuratus, var. Regina, Swains. Zool. Journ., vol. i. p. 474?

Columba purpurata, Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. ii. pl. 70.

Ptilinopus Swainsonii, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., February 8, 1842.

Considerable confusion has existed respecting the very beautiful birds constituting the genus Ptilinopus, as to whether they are so many species or merely varieties, and I quite agree with Messrs. Jardine and Selby when they say in their ‘Illustrations’ above quoted, “We strongly suspect that more than one species is involved among these different varieties, which some one in possession of them may hereafter be enabled to determine; and their varied geographical distribution tends considerably to strengthen this opinion.” There are in fact several species of this beautiful form so closely allied that at a casual glance they would be considered as identical, but on a careful comparison their specific differences will be clearly perceived. At least two of them are natives of Australia, the remainder being distributed over the Indian and Polynesian Islands. The present bird has by many authors been considered either as identical with or as a mere variety of the Columba purpurata, Auct., but if compared with that species it will be found to possess characters sufficiently different to warrant its being characterized as distinct; I have therefore named it after Mr. Swainson, the author of the genus to which it belongs, as a slight testimony of the respect I entertain for the talents of one who has done so much towards the advancement of ornithology, at once the most interesting and popular branch of the science of natural history.

The specimens from which my figures were taken are from the brushes of the River Clarence, situated between the Hunter and Moreton Bay; in the last-mentioned district it is tolerably abundant, the dense and luxuriant brushes affording it a congenial habitat and breeding-place. I have received both the young and the adults from this locality, but as I have never myself seen them in a state of nature, I am unable to give any account of their habits or economy. The sexes are so nearly alike in colouring that dissection alone can distinguish them with certainty.

Forehead and crown deep crimson-red, surrounded except in front with a narrow ring of light yellow; back of the neck greyish green; all the upper surface bright green tinged with yellow, the green becoming deep blue towards the extremities of the tertiaries, which are broadly margined with yellow; primaries slaty grey on their inner webs and green on the outer, very slightly margined with yellow; tail-feathers deep green, largely tipped with rich yellow; throat greenish grey, stained with yellow on the chin in some specimens and greyish white in others; breast dull green, each feather forked at the end and with a triangular silvery-grey spot at each extremity; flanks and abdomen green, with a large patch of orange-red in the centre of the latter; under tail-coverts orange-yellow; thighs green; irides reddish orange; bill greenish black and horn-colour at tip; feet olive brown.

The figures are of the natural size.

PTILINOPUS EWINGII: Gould.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

PTILINOPUS EWINGII, Gould. Ewing’s Fruit Pigeon.

Ptilinopus Ewingii, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., February 8, 1842.

This lovely species, which is a native of the Cobourg Peninsula, and doubtless ranges over the northern coast of Australia generally, differs from the preceding, Ptilinopus Swainsonii, in being much smaller in all its admeasurements, in the colour of the crown being rose-pink instead of crimson-red; in the breast being pale greenish grey instead of dull green; in having the centre of the abdomen rich orange instead of lilac; and also in having the tail-feathers tipped with greenish yellow instead of clear rich yellow. The specimens from which my figures are taken were fully adult, and were submitted to dissection in order to ascertain the sexes; consequently I am fully convinced, that, although the present and preceding species are very nearly allied, they are specifically distinct.

In naming the second Australian species of this beautiful form after the Rev. Thomas J. Ewing, at present residing in Van Diemen’s Land, I am actuated by a desire to pay a just compliment to one who is perhaps more thoroughly versed in the productions of writers on the interesting science of ornithology than most other persons, and, although so far removed from the seats of knowledge, continues to prosecute his studies with the utmost ardour; I feel assured therefore, that, however objectionable the naming of species after individuals may be under ordinary circumstances, it will not in this instance be deemed an inappropriate mode of evincing my sense of the many admirable qualities of a highly esteemed friend.

Forehead and crown of the head rose-pink, bordered with a narrow line of yellow, except in front; back of the head and neck greenish grey; all the upper surface bright green, passing into deep blue on the tertiaries; primaries, secondaries and tertiaries slightly margined with yellow; tail largely tipped with yellow, tinged with green, particularly on the two centre feathers; chin pale yellow; sides of the neck greenish grey; chest pale greenish grey, each feather forked at the end and tipped with grey; below the chest an indistinct band of sulphur-yellow; flanks and lower part of the abdomen green; centre of the abdomen rich orange, in the middle of which is a lunar-shaped mark of lilac; under tail-coverts orange; thighs and tarsi green; irides orange; feet olive.

The figures are of the natural size.

PTILINOPUS SUPERBUS.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp. ]

PTILINOPUS SUPERBUS. Superb Fruit-Pigeon.

Colombe poukiobou, Columba superba, Temm. Les. Pig., fol. 2nd fam., p. 75. pl. 33.—Ibid. Pig. et Gall., 8vo. tom. i. pp. 277, 474.

This lovely species was originally figured and described in the splendid work on the Pigeons by Madame Knip and my friend M. Temminck as an inhabitant of one of the islands of the Pacific Ocean; and it affords me much pleasure to be enabled to include a representation of it among my illustrations of the Fauna of Australia, specimens having been procured by Mr. Bynoe on Booby Island, which lies off the north coast. In all probability it enjoys an extensive range over the islands of New Guinea as well as over all parts of Northern Australia, wherever suitable situations occur. The specimens procured by Mr. Bynoe were fortunately male and female: the latter sex exhibits in its plumage traces of immaturity; but whether the rich colouring of the crown of the head is at all times absent is a point yet to be ascertained, a knowledge of which would greatly tend to clear up the confusion which reigns throughout this gorgeously-coloured group of Pigeons.

The male has the crown of the head of a very deep rich purple; sides of the head and occiput olive-green; sides and back of the neck bright rufous; shoulders very dark bluish black; all the upper surface and wings deep yellowish green, tinged with rufous; the scapularies and tertiaries with a spot of deep green near the extremity; primaries and secondaries black, slightly margined externally near the tip with pale yellow; tail grey at the base, to which succeeds a broad band of black, glossed particularly on the central feathers with green; beyond this the tips are white, all but the outer ones washed with green; chin white; breast grey, below which a band of black; abdomen and under tail-coverts white, the latter with a stripe of olive down the centre; band crossing the flanks and another crossing the thighs olive-green; feet orange; bill dark horn-colour.

The female has the crown of the head and all the upper surface yellowish green, with a small spot of deep blue near the tips of the scapularies; primaries and secondaries black, slightly edged with yellow; at the occiput a large patch of deep green; chin grey; centre of breast greenish grey; flanks green; centre of abdomen straw-yellow.

The figures are those of the two sexes on a plant of the north coast.

CARPOPHAGA MAGNIFICA.

J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith. Hullmandel & Walton Imp. ]

CARPOPHAGA MAGNIFICA. Magnificent Fruit Pigeon.

Columba magnifica, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 125.—Ib. Pl. Col. 163.—Wagl. Syst. Av. Columba, sp. 26.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 469.

Carpophaga magnifica, Selby in Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. v. Pigeons, p. 115.—List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part III. p. 5.