PTILOPUS LEWISI,

Lewis's Fruit-Pigeon.

Ramsay.

Ptilopus viridis, var., Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. iy. p. 73 (1879).—Salvad. Ibis, 1880, p. 128.—Ramsay
Nature, 1881, p. 239.—Tristr. Ibis, 1882, p. 144.—Ramsay, Ibis, 1882, Ds 473, a .

Ptilopus geelvinkianus, Layard, Ibis, 1880, p. 307 (nec Schl.).

Ptilopus eugenia, female, Ramsay, Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool. xvi. p. 131 (1881).

Ptilopus lewisit, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8, W. vi. p. 724 (1881).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov
Xvill. p. 427 (1882).—Id. Orn. Papuasia, ete. iii. App. p. 556 (1882) |

 

Auruoues closely allied to P. viridis of Ceram, the present species is easily distinguished by the purplish
shade which surrounds the red shield-patch on the throat and chest; it is further to be recognized by the
verditer-green shade on the grey forehead and throat, these parts being pure grey in P. viridis,

The home of this beautiful Fruit-Pigeon is in the Solomon Archipelago, where it has been found in the
islands of Lango and Guadalcanar by Mr. Cockerell, and in Florida and Malayta by Mr. Morton. Nothing
has as yet been recorded concerning its habits.

For the opportunity of figuring the species we are indebted to Mr. E. P. Ramsay, who lent us the
typical example of P. dewtst during his visit to England.

The following is a description of the type specimen :—

Adult. General colour above dark golden green, the nape and hind neck deep grass-green, contrasting with
the fore part of the crown, which is verditer-grey on the forehead, verging into greyish green on the sinciput ;
wing-coverts like the back, the lesser series pearly grey, forming a conspicuous shoulder-patch ; bastard wing,
primary-coverts, and quills blackish, externally deep emerald-green, the outer secondaries narrowly fringed
with yellow towards the ends, the inver secondaries like the back, with a conspicuous subterminal spot of
pearly grey; tail-feathers golden green, dusky on the inner webs, with a subterminal band of grey near the end
of the inner web, forming a distinct bar on the under surface of the tail; lores, feathers round the eye, ear-
coverts, cheeks, sides of face, and upper throat verditer-grey, greener and resembling the sides of the neck on
the hinder part of the ear-coverts ; centre of the throat, fore neck, and chest deep crimson or blood-colour,
separated from the surrounding green parts by a narrow line of dull purple ; remainder of underparts grass-
green, the feathers of the lower abdomen and lateral tail-coverts tipped with yellow ; vent-feathers white,
tipped with yellow ; thighs green, edged with yellow ; under tail-coverts white, longitudinally green along the

dark grey washed with green; quills
] 2:3, tarsus 0°65.

al size; the figures are drawn from

inner web, and tipped with yellow ; under wing-coverts and _ axillaries
ashy grey below. ‘Total length 7°8 inches, culmen 0°65, wing 4°6, tal
The Plate represents an adult bird in two positions, of about the natur

the type specimen lent to us by Mr. Ramsay. [R. B. S.J

 

 

 

 

 

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