Mr. D. G. Elhot on a new Ptilopus. 349 
species is given, expressed his doubts about the identity of 
Bonaparte’s and Wallace’s birds. Having found again the 
characters indicated by Wallace in one of Von Rosenberg’s 
specimens, I suggested in a previous paper (Abh. Ver. Brem. 
v. p.- 69) that there might be a lapsus calami in Bonaparte’s 
statement. 
Such being the state of affairs, until a short time ago, 
there could not be much objection to naming the Celebean 
bird “A. monachus.” Bonaparte’s diagnosis is, indeed, short 
enough; and recently one of his appellations, although in 
general use, has been rejected on account of its being accom- 
panied by a diagnostic phrase consisting of only fowr words. 
However, I cannot agree in fixing a certain number of words 
as indispensable for the establishment of a species. This 
would lead to a most trivial higgling ; for it is extremely diffi- 
cult to tell how many words should be considered sufficient. 
In some cases, I think, even a single word might do; besides 
it can never be demanded that the first description of a 
species should be exhaustive in every respect. But Bona- 
parte’s diagnosis is erroneous; and, as lately the Oriolus 
indicus has been renamed because of a wrong original 
description, it might have been regarded as necessary to find 
anew name for our bird. But this objection is, in my 
belief, not sustainable, as the species could be ascribed to 
Wallace, as well as the Oriolus indicus to Jerdon. 
However, it has become unavoidable to rename the Celebes 
bird; for now a species is known answering fully to Bona- 
parte’s diagnosis, viz. A. insignis; and therefore I venture 
to propose the name of A. spectabilis for the former. It 
now little matters whether Bonaparte’s term “ nigris”’ is 
miswritten or not, and whether the type in the Leyden 
Museum is really A. cnsignis (and in this case the habitat 
would be wrong) or A. spectabilis (and then the description 
would be wrong); on the contrary, I consider it best, under 
such circumstances, to drup “A. monachus” altogether, and 
to use the new names for the two species respectively. 
XXXIX.—Description of an apparently new Species of Pigeon 
of the Genus Ptilopus. By D. G. Extiot, F.R.S.E. &e. 
Prilopus pictiventris. 
Adult, Front and crown rosy purple, with a faintly in- 
dicated yellow margin. Occiput greenish grey. - Throat 
whitish; neck, upper part of mantle, and breast ashy green. 
