400 



BIRDS OF THE LIU Kill ISLANDS 



Witli seven specimens of the typical Ibrni before me (besides half a 

 dozen Coreau birds which I was allowed to examine by the courtesy of 

 Mr. P. L. Jony), and two specimens from Liu Kin, I have no hesitation 

 in pronouncing the latter to be distinct. 



The chief difference is expressed in the diagnosis, for while in the 

 typical birds from Japan proper (and I have specimens from Yezo, 

 Hondo, and Kiusiu) the breast is of a more or less vinous 'fawn-color' 

 and the abdomen of a vinaceous-buff, these parts in the new species are 

 of a decided ciiuianion color, which on the breast overlies a dark drab, 

 but on the abdomen is lighter, richer, and tinged with vinaceous and 

 rufous. The interscapular region is more russet, the broad margins to 

 scapulars and tertiaries of a richer and deeper burnt sienna, and the 

 rump darker, nearly slate black. 



That these differences are not due to season is evident from the fact 

 that I have typical T. gelastis in all seasons, some of them correspond- 

 ing closely with the Liu Kiu specimens as to date, but differing widely 

 in coloration, not one of the formsr even approaching the rich cinna- 

 mon of the latter, 



Mr. Pryer, in a letter dated March 10, 1887, informs me that his speci- 

 mens also are " rather more fully colored than Japanese." 



Turtur stimpsoni agrees with T. gelastis in having the under tail-cov- 

 erts and the tip of the tail-feathers gray. (Ridgway's I^omencl. Col., 

 pi. ii, fig. 7.) 



1 have named this bird after its first discoverer. 



Measurements 

 I. TURTUR STIMPSONI. 



U. TURTUK GELASTIS. 



Christianift, N . . . 



U. S. Nat., 15844. 

 Do. 95084. 

 Do. 109467. 

 Do. 91581. 



Petersen, 40- cT ad. 

 Hepson, 70.. ? ad. 



Ileiue, 3 ad 



JJlak.,2C7... 

 Naiuivo, 20.. 

 Jouy,'l019 .. 



? ad. 

 ? ad . 

 ? ad 



Amakusa, Kiusiu . . 



Hakodate, Yezo 



...do 



Sappoio. Yezo 



SaRami, Hondo 



Tokio, Uondo 



Mar.29, 1886. 

 Aue.14,1883. 

 May, 1854 . . 

 May 10, 1877. 

 Nov. 1.5, 1884 

 Mar.24, 1883. 



198 139 



187 118 

 193 126 



188 124 

 178 118 

 195 122 



"318" 

 "310" 



Type. 



t Tail defective. 



