W hite-chested Pigeon.

Phlogenas jobiensis, Meyer, Mitth. Zool. Mus. Dresden, i. p. 10 (18
p- 318
Chalcophaps margarithe, D’Alb. et Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Gen. vii. p- 836 (1875).
margarite, Salvadori, op. cit. ix. pp. 44, 207 (1876).
Phlogenas margarite, Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. viii. p- 405 (1876).—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1877,
Chalcophaps jobiensis, D’ Alb. et Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. ix. p. 207 (1876).

75).—Sharpe, Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool. xiii

peut

 

Tuis truly beautifnl species of Ground-Dove was described almost simultaneously by Dr. Meyer in Dresden
and by Signor D’Albertis and Count Salvadori in Turin. That the adult bird described by the two latter
gentlemen from South-eastern New Guinea should not have been recognized as the same as Dr. Meyer’s
species from Jobi is not surprising, as the latter was described from an immature bird. Thanks to Dr.
Meyer’s kindness, however, I have been enabled to give a figure of the typical bird; and there can be no
Hone, on comparing it with the adult specimen also figured by me, that P. margarite and P. jobiensis
belong to one and the same species, im which case I believe that the latter title possesses a slight priority
of publication over the former. Even if this conclusion had been formed in this country alone, the speci-
mens alluded to are almost sufficient to have settled the question ; but a similar conclusion has been arrived
at quite independently by Count Salvadori, who has examined an adult specimen from the island of Jobi,
which was identical with others from South-eastern New Guinea. The range of this species therefore ex-
tends from the island of Jobi to New Guinea, and to Duke-of-York Island or New Ireland to the eastward.
Unfortunately Mr. Brown has not given the exact locality of the specimens which he sent to Dr. Sclater.
It would appear to be found over the greater part of New Guinea, as peccan eee an adil bird at
Wandammen, in the Bay of Geelvink ; and several specimens were contained in D’Albertis’s collection from
Yule Island and the opposite coast of New Guinea. Here he met with it at Naiabui; and it was also ob-
tained at Port Moresby by Mr. Stone. o ;

The present species is closely allied to P. erythroptera, ot the Society Islands, whieh, however, : a me 7
bird, and is distinguished by its white forehead. I take the accompanying description from the origina
paper of Signor D’Albertis and Count Salvadori.

Head, neck, rump, and upper tail-coverts blackish grey ; lores, a stre eS
drawn from the base of the lower mandible as far as the

ak over the eye, fore neck, and upper
part of breast pure white ; a streak under the eye, ce aq cee
ing-coverts dusky black o with shining
neck, blackish grey ; dorsal plumes, scapulars, and upper wing-co\ erts dusky black, margine g
violet; sides of the breast black, the edges of the feathers violet ; hat ashy: amills daclemenl

coverts dusky black, the middle of the lower breast and of the abdomen somewhat ashy; quills ky; te

: : i ill black; fee dusky red.
blackish grey, slightly paler at the tip; bill black ; feet dull y enpall size, the lattes WermeaIDe
2 re “ « yee ~ Le C :
In the Plate an old and young bird are represented, of about the natura , 8
. PO i ; specimen C
Meyer’s type specimen, the adult being drawn from a fine S|

kindly lent to me by that gentleman.

lower breast, abdomen, and under tail-

ollected by Mr. Octavius Stone and