REPORT ON THE BIRDS — ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. ;)1 



1 4. Arclea sacra, Gm. 



Ardea sacra, Finsch andHartL, Orn. Central-Polyn., p. 201 ; Scl., Proc. Zool. Soc, 1877, p. 555. 



A specimen (No. 480) in grey plumage, with a few white feathers on the throat. 

 [Eyes yellow ; legs had a yellowish tinge ; bill black.] 



15. Carpopliaga rhodinolcema, Scl. (PL IX.). 



Carpophaga rhodinolcema, Scl., Proc. Zool. Soc, 1877, p. 555. 



Supra seneo-viridis, alis caudaque saturatioribus, remigibus et rectricibus intus liigri- 

 cantibus ; capite et cervice totis et corpore inferiore canis ; genis gulaque rosaceo indutis ; 

 crisso obscure castaneo ; niento et oculorum anibitu anguste albis ; rostro nigro, pedibus 

 rubris ; long, tota 12 "6 ; alge 9 "3, eaudse 5'G. 



Habitat. — Ins. Admiralitatis. 



Four examples of this Fruit-Pigeon (Nos. 468, 469, 470, males ; 471, female) belong- 

 ing to the group of Carpopliaga cenea are in the collection. The figure (PL IX.) repre- 

 sents specimen 471. 



The Marquis of Tweeddale, who kindly compared the birds for me with his series, 

 wrote : — 



" Apart from its dimensions, this Carpophaga from the Admiralty Islands, only 

 differs from individuals of Carpophaga cenea, ex Ceylon, Malabar, Central India, Burma, 

 the Andamans, Borneo, Java, the Philippines, and Hainan, in having no rosy or vinous 

 tint on the grey part of the plumage, excepting on that of the throat, cheeks, and ear- 

 coverts. In example (No. 468) this is very well marked. 



" The outer webs of the primaries are not conspicuously powdered with grey as is the 

 case in Central Indian, Barman, Javan, Bornean, Hainan, and Philippine examples. But 

 I do not attach much importance to this difference at present, for I suspect this powder- 

 ing comes on only when the quills are old, and indications are evident on some of the 

 quills of No. 468." 



Mr Murray writes : — 



" These birds were in immense numbers, but more especially on a small island near 

 the mainland, hence called ' Pigeon Island.' On the first clay four guns bagged 85 in two 

 hours; another day 230 were taken, another 200, another 150. This island was about 

 two acres in extent. The pigeons always returned to it from the mainland, however 

 much they were disturbed. It would seem to have been. their usual breeding place. 

 When our first party landed the birds were so tame they could be knocked over with a 

 stick. Their nests consisted of crossed twigs and sticks, with layers of large leaves. 

 Some of them were on the ground under dense masses of creepers. Three eggs were obtained. 

 The stomachs generally contained the dark scarlet berries of a wild coffee tree." 



