THE BIRDS OF THE NATUNA ISLANDS 

 MYRISTICIVOUA BICOLOR (Scopoli) 



29 



Columba bicolor Scopoli, Deliciae florae et faunae Insubricae, vol. 2, p. 94, 1786. 

 ("Nova Guiana.") 



Five specimens were collected by Doctor Abbott, as follows : 



Adult male, U.S.N.M. No. 174662, Pulo Laut, August 6, 1900. 

 Length in flesh, 406 mm. "Feet blue; claws black; eyelids blue; bill 

 blue, tip black." 



Adult male, U.S.N.M. No. 174661, Pulo Laut, August 5, 1900. 

 Length in flesh, 400 mm. 



Adult male, U.S.N.M. No. 174664, Pulo Seraia, May 29, 1900. 



Adult female, U.S.N.M. No. 174660, Sirhassen Island, June 10, 

 1900. "Iris dark brown; feet leaden blue; claws black; bill leaden 

 blue, black at tip." 



Adult female, U.S.N.M. No. 174659, Sirhassen Island, June 10, 

 1900. Length in flesh, 387 mm. "Contained well-developed eggs." 



Table 4. — Measurements of specimens of Myristicivora bicolor 



* Measured in the flesh by the collector. 



These examples appear to be identical with birds from other parts 

 of the range of the species. The lack or very small amount of tangible 

 geographic variation in this pigeon is rather unusual among the 

 species of the famih^ in the East Indies. There is likewise but little 

 individual variation, such as exists being chiefly in the amount of 

 black on the tail and on the tips of the lower tail coverts. 



Doctor Abbott notes that this species was numerous on Pulo 

 Seraia at the time of his visit. May 29, 1900. He also reported it 

 common on Pulo Laut, August 6, 1900, where it frequented the 

 coconut trees. A female taken on June 10, containing well-developed 

 eggs, indicates that the breeding season is probably in June. 



Doctor Hartert has recorded^® this species from the additional 

 islands of Bunguran, Pulo Pandak, and Pulo Panjang. 



Measurements of the specimens obtained by Doctor Abbott are 

 given in Table 4. 



" Nov. Zool., vol. 2, no. 3, p. 477, Aug. 17, 1895. 



