,2 Dircclor s Annual Report. 



This bird is somewhat similar to P. ponapcnsis, from Pouape, 

 but the latter has more lilac on the crown and no red at the base of 

 the lower mandible ; it is also lighter gray on the neck, and the 

 band on the tail is yellowish in Ponape specimens. 



Genus PHI/OGOENAS Reichenbach. 



40. Phlogoenas xanthonura (Temm). Poloman kanau. 

 White-headed Pigeon. 



Cvluinba pumpnsaii. Ouov 6t Gaim., Voy. Uraii. Zool., 1S24, p. 121, pi. 30. 



Coliuiiba XiUitliiDiura. Teniin., PI. Col. 190 (liv. 32, 1S23). 



Peiiitera iTvlliroptcrci (part), Cass., U. S. Exp. Ex. Birds, 1853, p. 277. 



Phli'fcoenas'panipusa)i . Cat. Brit. Mus., 1893, XX., p. 602; Wiglesw., Aves. Polynes., p. 53. 



Plilegooias xauthovHia, Hartert, Nov. Zool., 189S, V., p. 60. 



These pigeons are common all over the island. Sixteen speci- 

 mens were secured, — 6 adult males, i immature male, 8 females, 

 and I fledgling. The adult males have the forehead, cheeks, 

 superciliary region, throat and brea.st pure white ; crown, back of 

 neck and ear coverts a ru.sty rufous. In fully adult breeding birds 

 there is a slight wash of buff on the nape, as in No. 951 1 ; remain- 

 der of upper parts olive bronze ; anterior part of mantle and the 

 wing coverts with a rich lUvStre of purple-violet ; primaries brown ; 

 quills dark ; mid-tail feathers brown, the lateral one grayish black 

 with a broad sub-terminal band of black ; belly and under tail 

 coverts brown, with some of the feathers slightly tipped with rufous ; 

 feet brown, wdth a slight pinkish tint ; bill dark ; eye dark hazel. 

 The adult female (type of Coliunba pampiisan) has no white color- 

 ing at all, the entire body being a uniform rufous brown with a 

 distinct olive lustre on the back ; forehead, crown and nape cin- 

 namon ; feathers of wing coverts and belly edged with rufous ; tail 

 rufous, with a broad sub-apical black band which is not so dis- 

 tinct on the two central feathers ; feet brown ; eye dark hazel ; bill 

 a brownish flesh color. The immature males have a number of 

 dirty white feathers appearing on the breast and throat ; sides, top 

 of head and neck deep brown, with an intermingling of a few 

 rufous feathers ; the lesser and middle wing coverts with the splen- 

 did purple- violet coloring of the adult male. No. 9505 ; the feathers 

 of the middle wing coverts are tipped with rufous ; bill dusky, 

 with a slight greenish cast ; feet brown, with a pinkish tint ; eyes 

 dark hazel. 



These pigeons seem to prefer the deep jungle, from whence 

 their deep low moan, like the sound of a man dying in great dis- 

 tress, comes with a wierd uncanny effect, heightened bv the gloom 

 and darkness of the unknown forest. This sound, which always 

 seems to come from a long distance, is very misleading, and one is 

 considerably surprised to find he is perhaps within a few feet of the 

 bird. Their food consists chiefly of the fruit of the lyemonceti 

 {Triphasia ati7'antiola) and a small berry, called by the natives 



