3.20 Capt. G. E. Shelley on the 



Total length 11 inches, culmen 0-75, wing 6-65, tail 4-5, 

 tarsus 1*1. 



Hab. The Comoro Islands. 



My description is taken from a specimen collected for me 

 by Sir John Kirk on the island of Anjuan. This is the species 

 referred to as being very common in Mayotte by Schlegel 

 and Pollen under the name of T. picticratus. 



I think I am right in considering this bird specifically 

 distinct from the very closely allied T. aldabranus, from which 

 it differs in its larger size and in the less vinons colouring of 

 the back, rump, and tail; for our present knowledge does 

 not warrant us in regarding any of these characters as 

 variable. 



34. TURTUR ROSTRATUS. 



Columba pidurata, var, Seychelles, Temm. PI. Col. 1826, 

 text to pi. 242. 



Turtur rosiratus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xl. 1855, p. 16; id, 

 Consp. Gen. Av. ii. 1857, p. 62; E. Newton, P.Z. S. 1867, 

 p. 344; id. Ibis, 1867, pp. 337, 354, 359 ; A. Newton, Ibis, 

 1868, p. 477; Schl. Mus. P.-B. iv. Columb. 1873, p. 130; 

 Hartl. Vog. Madag. 1877, p. 269. 



Crown, upper back, scapulars, and the lesser wing-coverts 

 deep vinous purple ; remainder of the head, neck, and breast 

 somewhat paler; a partial collar on the sides of the neck 

 formed by the feathers having black bases and broad ^ashy 

 vinous edges ; remainder of the wings dark brown, many of 

 the feathers partially washed on their edges with deep vinous 

 purple ; the primaries with narroAv pale edges ; remainder of 

 the back and the two centre tail-feathers slaty grey ; re- 

 mainder of the tail slaty black for about the basal two thirds ; 

 end third of the tail and a broad outer margin white, shading 

 into slaty grey towards the four centre feathers ; the vinous 

 of the breast shades into slaty grey on the sides of the body 

 and into ashy white on the abdomen; under tail-coverts 

 white; under wing-coverts slaty grey; under surface of the 

 quills dark brown ; bill slaty black, with the end third yellow ; 



