742 



ON THE BIRDS OF TONGATABU, FIJI, ETC. [NoV. 6, 



green ; secondaries margined externally very narrowly with yellow ; 

 under wing-coverts ashy grey, the under-surface of wings darker ; 

 tail-feathers with a grey cross band above the ends, scarcely visible 

 on the outer web ; tail from below ashy grey, with an ill-defined 

 white cross band above the end. 

 Female like the male. 



Long. 



tot. 



lin. 

 C. 8 



al. 



in. lin. 



5 5 



5 7 



caud. 



in. lin. 



2 9 

 2 9 



rostr. 



a front. 



in. 



5 



tars. 



lin. 

 12 

 12 



dig. med. 

 lin. 



9i c? 



Peale's figure is somewhat incorrect ; the head appears too blue, 

 and has no purplish-red margin j the remiges are not coloured 

 blue. 



The very interesting fact of the very localized distribution of the 

 numerous species of the genus Ptilonopus in the Pacific archipelago 

 is most strongly exemplified by this species, peculiar to the 

 Tahiti group. The pale purplish-lilac cap and the want of the 

 usual dark vent-spot, distinguish this species at once as regards 

 coloration. But, besides, it is very well characterized by the 



B 



form of the first primary, which is shown in figure A, whereas in 

 the other Polynesian species before me {Pt.fasciatus, porphyraceus. 

 pelewensis, jionapensis, perousei, and dupetit-ihouarsi) this feather 

 is much attenuated in the apical half (see fig. B.). 



4. Ardea sacra, Gm. 



No. 562. Tahiti. Female. 



563. „ „ Young. 



" Eyes orange ; feet and legs greenish in the adult." — J.M. 

 No. 502 is white, strongly developing slate-blue feathers ; No. 563 

 is slate-coloured, with a broad white chin-stripe. 



