1871.] ON BIRDS FROM THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 31 



yellow margins at the ends of the coverts of the secondaries are 

 "broader and form a distinct cross line ; the white end-portion of the 

 tail-feathers is washed at the outer web and apex with green ; bill 

 and feet brown. 



Long. tota. alse. 

 c. 8" 5" 0'" 

 — 47 



In our work on the birds of Central Polynesia, we have already 

 shown that the different groups of islands in the Pacific are in- 

 habited by different species of the genus Ptilinopus, which, resem- 

 bling each other at first sight very much, nevertheless exhibit 

 constant characters to distinguish them with certainty, as pointed out 

 in our monograph of the Polynesian species of Ptilinopus. Since 

 this monograph was written, we have declared the Ptilinopus of the 

 Pelew group (our Pt. pelewensis, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 7) to be a distinct 

 species ; and now we have again occasion to introduce a Ptilinopus 

 from the Cook's islands as new. Pt. rarotongensis is most nearly 

 allied to Pt. chrysogaster, Gray, from Huaheine (Society's Islands), 

 but may be distinguished at once by the dark red pectoral patch, 

 which in Pt. chrysogaster is wanting. Besides, this latter species 

 has the forehead and vertex pale rose, and the secondaries and upper 

 quill-coverts are shining blue-green, with broad yellow margins. 

 Pt. roseicapillus, Less. (Pt. purpureocinctus, Gray), from the 

 Mariannes, also resembles it in possessing a red patch on the 

 middle of the breast, but is otherwise quite different, the whole 

 upper surface of the head being red as well as a patch on the base 

 of the lower mandible ; lower breast green, remainder of underparts 

 orange. With the other species (Pt. fasciatus from the Vitis 

 and Navigators, Pt. porphyraceus from Tonga, &c), Pt. raroton- 

 gensis cannot be confounded. The green of its plumage shows 

 none of the metallic or coppery lustre observed in most of the other 

 species. 



We may remark that Mr. G. R. Gray has already published a 

 Pt. chalcurus (B. of the Tropical Isl. of the Pacific, 1859, p. 37), 

 founded on a specimen in the British Museum, said to be from the 

 Hervey or Cook's archipelago. So far as can be told from the very 

 short diagnosis ("much resembling Pt. coralensis, Peale, but front 

 and vertex shining greyish purplish"), this so-called species has 

 nothing whatever to do with our Pt. rarotongensis. 



4. Carpophaga pacifica (Gml.). 



A young bird, resembling the young males from Savai described 

 above, but having the underparts, instead of vinaceous, of a faint 

 dirty ochre-brownish tinge, darker on the vent, the under tail- 

 coverts lighter chestnut, base of bill without knob. 



5. Actitis incanus (Gml.). 

 One specimen in winter plumage. 



