Ptilinopus purpuralus. 475 



croaches upon a rich orange transverse band which graduates into 

 the pure yellow of the vent. The under tail coverts are orange ; 

 and the flanks and tarsi olive-green. The tail is even, the two 

 middle feathers rather shorter and entirely green ; the rest are 

 green only on their outer webs and black within ; but all are 

 crossed at their extremities by a broad band of buff-coloured yel- 

 low. The greater quills are blackish, but their outer webs are 

 dull green, with a very narrow margin of yellow. Tarsi covered 

 with soft and thick-set feathers down to the divisions of the claws ; 

 the soles are broad and flat. 



Female, or young bird. 



The principal difference between this specimen and the last 

 described, is the absence of the ruby-coloured crown ; the situa- 

 tion of which is only indicated by a spot of dull lilac in front of 

 the head ; while the yellow line, instead of encircling the crown, 

 is merely seen near the eye : the green on the wings is not so 

 brilliant, nor of so blue a tinge as in the male ; while the tail- 

 feathers are only margined round their tips with pale yellow: the 

 extremities of the greater quills are also margined with white ; 

 the orange on the abdomen is duller, and mixed up with yellow, 

 and the green base of the feathers in this part more distinctly 

 seen. 



Both these specimens are among Mr. Brogden's birds, and are 

 supposed to come from Australasia. 



•On comparing the above descriptions with those of the Columba 

 purpurata, by M. Temminck and Dr. Latham, several variations 

 will be observed ; these, for the sake of brevity, may be thus 

 noticed : 



Ptilinopus purpuralus (var. ? Columba purpurata. Latham 

 regiha). Mihi. and Temminck. 



1. Tarsi covered with olive- 1. Les tarses sont a moitie em- 

 green feathers as far as the plumes. Temminck. The 

 division of the claws. legs are very rough,* and 



of a dusky black. Lath. 

 Gen. Synopsis. 



* This is a very ambiguous expression ; a foot may be either ro ugh with 

 scales, or rough with unconnected feathers. In our bird the feathers are short, 

 small, close-set, and very smooth. 



