OTIDIPHAPS CERVICALIS,

Grey-naped Otidiphaps.

Ramsay.

Otidiphaps nobilis, var. cervicalis, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc.
1881, p. 179.

Otidiphaps cervicalis, Ramsay, loc. cit. errata.

Otidiphaps regalis, Salvin & Godman, Ibis, 1880, p. 364, pl. xi

New S. Wales, iv. p. 420.—Sclater & Salvin, Ibis,

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Tus beautiful species of Ground-pigeon represents in South-eastern New Guinea the Otidiphaps nobilis
of the north-western part of the island. It differs in the green colour of the rump and upper tail-coverts,
in the absence of an occipital crest, and more especially in having the conspicuous grey neck-band from
which the species derives its specific name. Mr. Ramsay described the species from specimens obtained by
Mr. A. Goldie on the Goldie river in the interior of South-eastern New Guinea. From the same collector
Messrs. Salvin and Godman received the specimens from which they drew up their description of O. regalis ;
and it seems a great pity that some notice was not given before the despatch of the specimens to England to
the effect that they had already been deposited with Mr. Ramsay for the purpose of description. In this way
science would have been saved the unnecessary synonymy consequent upon the simultaneous description of these
novelties from South-eastern New Guinea by naturalists in England and Australia. Great difficulty is caused,
moreover, in deciding as to which name should take precedence ; for in the present instance the name of
Otidiphaps regalis was published in July 1880, and yet in January 1881 the editors of ‘The Ibish had been
unable to find in this country a single copy of Part iv. of the ‘ Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New
South Wales,’ although Mr. Ramsay’s paper containing the description of his O. cervicalis was read before
that Society on the 31st of December, 1879. It is therefore extremely probable that Messrs. Salvin and
Godman actually published their description first. - .

Mr. Goldie informed Mr. Ramsay that these Pigeons were obtained by him only with great ditficulty, in the
dense scrubs far inland ; they were always on the ground, and in habits resembled the Ces In the notes aed
have accompanied a sect collection of Mr. Goldie’s from the ee Bong in St ee ey
Guinea, in which he sends several fine specimens of both sexes, we find the ae an
Otidiphaps. ‘* Native name Keo. Eyes red. This ground-bird is found only se ae i a a
alling, which, when imitated, brings it toward one ; and it then s

/ i ‘1 i , trees and

j i ing » intruder. When disturbed he will fly into low

y t and spread, challenging the intruder.
es a g's scraped together at the foot of a

: : an’ GWA atic sed of a few tw
bushes, but is quickly away again. The nest 1s compose d of < Cae eae aoe
i ace.” The eee, which is also forwarded by Mr. Goldie, 1s, as mig ’

low tree in a sequestered place.” The egg, whic
pure white.

The figure in the Plate represents the bird about the natural

collection. [R. B. S.]

It has a long plaintive note when c

size, and is drawn from a specimen in my own