PTI LOPUS SPECIOSU S, Schlegel.

Lilac-bellied Fruit-Pigeon.

Ptilopus speciosus, Schleg. Nederl. Tijdsch. iv. p. 23 (1871).—Id. Mus. P. B. Columbe. 1873, p. 27.—Salvad
Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. ix. p. 197 (1876).—Elliot, P. Z, S. 1878. p. 564,

 

Tuts species was described by Professor Schlegel from specimens forwarded by Baron von Rosenberg under
the MS. name of P7ilopus speciosus, a title adopted by the learned Professor. He writes :-—" This unde-
scribed species belongs to the most beautiful of the genus. It has been discovered, as we have already
mentioned in our note on P. miguelit, in the island of Mefoor (Mafoor), where it lives side by side with
P. rivoli, as well as in the island of Soek (Misori), where it represents P. rivolii and P. miquelii, which come
from Meosnoum and Jobi.” I may mention that the birds here mentioned as P. miquelit and P. rivolii are
identified by Mr. Elliot as P. prasinorrhous and P. strophium respectively. The island of Soek is another
name for Misori—the latter name being better known through the discoveries of Dr. Meyer and Dr. Beccari.
A large series has also been recently received at the Paris Museum from the islands of Mafoor and Misori,
collected by M. Raffray; and Mr. Elliot states that individuals from these localities do not differ.

The sexes are thus described by Mr. Elliot :—

Male. General plumage yellowish green, darkest on the head and neck. A broad bright yellow band,
bordered on the lower side with white, crosses the breast. Abdomen beautiful lilac; lower part of abdomen
and under tail-coverts bright lemon-yellow. A purple spot in front of the eyes. Primaries grey on their
outer webs and tips; first not narrowed especially towards tip. Tail yellowish green. Bill black, tip
yellow. Feet dark red. Total length 7 inches, wing 48, tail 23, culmen B

Female. Green, with the feathers of the abdomen margined yellow, and under tail-coverts yellow. Pri-
maries have outer webs and tips grey.

The two figures on the Plate are of the natural size, and represent the adult male and female, being

: ; : Le ee, avino heen presented to me by Dr. Meyer.
drawn from specimens in my own collection, the female having been presented t¢ j ,

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