1878.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 53/ 



Ptilonopus mercieri, Gray, List B. Trop. Isl. (1859) p. 36 ; 

 Reich. Tauben, p. 96. 



Hab. Nuka-hiva, Marquesas Islands. (Type.) 

 A very rare and well-marked species ; but one or two examples 

 besides the type in the Paris Museum are, I believe, all that are 

 known in European collections. It resembles in its coloration the 

 last species, but is readily recognized by the red spot on the head at 

 the base of the mandible. 



Adult. Entire upper part of head and occiput and a conspicuous 

 spot at base of the mandible deep rosy purple. Nape, mantle, sides 

 • of neck, throat, and breast pale yellowish green, with a tinge of ash 

 upon cheeks and nape. Abdomen and flanks bright greenish yellow ; 

 crissum and under tail-coverts bright yellow. Back and upper tail- 

 coverts bright green, with a yellowish tinge upon the latter. Wings 

 same colour as the back ; primaries black, shaded with very dark 

 green upon the outer webs, the first abruptly and greatly attenuated ; 

 secondaries black on the inner webs, dark green on the outer, and 

 margined with yellow ; the innermost ones with a conspicuous blue- 

 black spot near the tips, and margined broadly with yellow. Rec- 

 trices smoke-colour at base, the outer webs barred with pale green 

 in the centre, this colour sometimes extending slightly onto the 

 inner web; and all the apical third very light yellow. Bill 

 black with light tip. Feet brown. Total length 9 inches, wing 

 5£, tail 3§, culmen |. (Description taken from type in Paris 

 Museum.) 



15. Ptilopus roseicapillus. 



Columba roseicapilla, Less. Trait. Ornith. p. 472. sp. 44 Cnec 

 syn.) (1831). v 



Le Kurukuru des Mariannes, Less. Com pi. Buff. torn, iii Ois 

 p. 33(1837). 



Ptilonopus purpureicinctus, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1853, p. 48, 

 pi. lv; id. List B. Brit. Mus. (1856) p. 4. sp. 5 (partim); id! 

 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd ser. vol. xv. (1855) p. 159 : id List 

 B. Trop. Isl. (1859) p. 37. 



Kurukuru roseicapilla, Des Murs & Prev. Zool. Voy. Venus Ois 

 p. 259 (1855). 



Ptilopus roseicapillus, Bon. Compt. Rend. torn. xl. (1855) p. 

 216. sp. 46 ; id. Iconog. Pig. (1857) pi. xxii. ; id. Consp. Gen; Av! 

 vol. ii. p. 21. sp. 7. 



Ptilonopus roseicapillus, Gray, List B. Trop. Isl. p. 37 : Reich 

 Taub. p. 96. 



Ptilinopus roseicapillus, Finsch & Hartl. Faun. Centraloolvn 

 (1867) p. 127. ' 



Hub. Ladrone Islands or Marianne Islands. 



This is a very distinct species, differing in certain particulars from 

 all others known. Besides Lesson's type there are several examples 

 in the collection of the Paris Museum. It is a rare species, not 

 many examples having been brought to Europe. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1878, No. XXXV. 35 



