1878.] MR D. G. ELLIOT ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 5/5 



Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 115; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. 

 Gen. (1876) vol. ix. p. 199. 



Ptilopus assimilis, Schleg. Mus. Pays-B. 1873, p. 38, Columbce. 



Hab. Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Australia {Ramsay). 



This is a race of Pt. magnificus, representing it in the northern 

 part of Australia, and differing mainly in being smaller in size. 

 Whether this is sufficient to constitute a species, I do not propose at 

 present to discuss, but merely to remark that, as in many groups of 

 birds it has been very properly rejected as a specific character, it 

 would seem that, in the present instance, this bird and Pt. magnificus 

 might with advantage be retained under one specific name. 



Pt. assimilis was procured by Mr. Ramsay, together with Pt. 

 magnificus itself, at Rockingham Bay, North-east Queensland. Ex- 

 cept in its smaller size, he found that it presented no differences what- 

 ever from Pt. magnificus. He regards it as a connecting link between 

 the large form and the smallest (Pt. puella), of which form he had 

 received a fine pair collected at Cape York, Australia, by Mr. J. A. 

 Thorpe, this being the first instance known to me in which Pt. puella 

 has been obtained in Australia. 



Head and throat grey ; centre of throat and underparts to middle 

 of abdomen rich purple. Under wing-coverts, thighs, and under tail- 

 coverts rich yellow. Back and rump yellowish green. Wing and tail 

 bright grass-green ; wing-coverts with a conspicuous oblong spot at 

 the tip. Total length 14 inches, wing 7, tail 6, culmen 3. 



The specimen described was obtained at Gape York by the ' Chal- 

 lenger' Expedition. 



71. Ptilopus magnificus. 



Columba magnifica, Temm. PI. Col. 163; id. Trans. Linn. Soc. 

 vol. xiii. p. 125 (1822); Wagl. Syst. Av. sp. 26 (1827), Columba ; 

 Knip & Prev. Pig. vol. ii. pi. 25 ; Gould, B. Austr. vol. v. pi. lviii. 

 (1848); Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, p. 115. 



Carpophaga magnifica, Selby, Nat. Libr. Ornith. vol. v. p. 119. 



Megaloprepia magnifica, Reich. Tauben, p. 101, pi. 283. figs. 

 1299, 1300. 



Ptilopus magnificus, Schleg. Mus. Pays-B. 1873, p. 38, Columbce. 



Hab. South Australia, river Hunter to Moreton Bay (Gould) ; 

 Rockingham Bay, North-east Queensland (Ramsay). 



Mr. Ramsay states in this journal (I. c.) that he found this spe- 

 cies abundant at Rockingham Bay in North-east Queensland, and 

 very variable in size. 



Adult. Forehead and chin light grey ; head and neck greenish 

 grey, becoming light green on sides of breast ; centre of throat and 

 neck in front, breast, and abdomen deep purple. Lower part of ab- 

 domen orange-yellow. Under tail-coverts yellowish green. Wings, 

 back, and tail bright green ; wing-coverts with large pale yellow 

 spots, forming a bar across the wing. Bill red at base, tip yellow. 

 Total length 19 inches, wing 9, tail 7, culmen §. 



