CARPOPHAGA FINSCHI

Ramsay.

Finsch’s Fruit-Pigzeon.

Carpophaga finschu, Ramsay, Journ. Linn. Soe. xvi. p. 129 (18
p- 478.—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov.
p- 558 (1882).

81).—Tristram, Ibis, 1
NS JD 4483) (IIID).—<idl, Or

 

I i. an
n. Papuasia, ete. iii, App.

a

As Count Salvadori has surmised, the nearest ally of res species j
| ee ; E ally of the present species is Carpophaga rufiventris
(C. rufigaster, auctt.), but the differences are numerous and striking ; they are as follows :—
' Pee ce shee ieee . x .

1. The grey band on the tail is subterminal, not terminal, the tips of the feathers being green.
2. The basal portion of the tail is deep blue.

3. The lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are green with golden reflexions
C. rufiventris.

4, The head is grey, as well as the hind neck and upper mantle.

, not purplish red as in

0. The ashy pink of the throat occupies also the fore neck and chest, whereas in C. rufiventris the brick-
red colour of the underparts commences at the fore neck.

6. The rufous colour of the breast is continued equally over the abdomen, and is deepest on the under tail-
coverts in C. rufiventris ; the lower abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts are quite pale.

It will at once be seen that a Pigeon differing in so many characters from its nearest ally must be an
easily recognizable species, and we have not met with any bird with which it could be confounded.

The type specimen is a male, procured by the Rev. G. Brown in Irish Cove, New Ireland ; it has been lent
to us by our friend Mr, Ramsay for the purposes of the present work.

The following is a detailed description :—

Adult male. General colour above dark grass-green from the middle of the back to the upper tail-coverts,
many of the feathers coppery or golden green, the lower mantle and upper back reddish or coppery ; wing-
coverts green with an emerald appearance, the lesser series washed with coppery like the middle of the back ;
bastard wing, primary-coverts, and quills blackish, externally marked with deep indigo, which is glossed with
bronzy green, especially on the secondaries ; tail-feathers deep blue for their basal half, sueceeded by a broad
band of ashy grey, which is again succeeded bya narrow bar of black, leaving a broad terminal band of green 3
entire head, hind neck, and upper mantle clear blue-grey, the base of the forehead and lores washed with pale
rosy; feathers above and below the eye creamy white, purer white underneath the latter ; ear-coverts alle
rosy extending on to the sides of the hinder crown; cheeks and throat also pale rosy; lower throat, fore
neck, and chest a little deeper rosy pink, with a slight bloom of blue-grey pervading the loves throat and also
the sides of the neck, scarcely developed at all on the fore neck and chest ; remainder of under surface con
the breast downwards deep orange or brick-red, rather more intense on the under oa ae ae
coverts dark slaty grey, the feathers being dusky, edged with the latter oe ae = bs oe
edge of wing wasbed with green and blue; greater under-coverts and quills below dusky slate-colour. é
length 13-5 inches, culmen 0°95, wing 8°3, tail 4:5, tarsus 1°]. | tne

The Plate represents this Pigeon of the full size. The figures are drawn from the type spe ,

Mr. Ramsay has kindly lent to us. (ites

882, p. 144.—Ramsay, t. c.