1863.J MR. A. R. WALLACE ON THE BIRDS OF BOURU. 33 



MuNIA MOLUCCA. 



Loxia molucca, L. ; PI. Enl. 139. 2. 

 Hab. Bouru and the Moluccas. 



TrERON AROMATICA. 



Columba aromatica, Gm. 



C. viridis amboinensis, Br. Ora. i. p. 146; PI. Enl. 163 (fig. pes- 

 sima). 



Bill, cere, and eyelids pale dull blue, tip of the bill becoming yel- 

 low in dry specimens ; iris white ; feet dusky purple. 



Total length 11^ inches ; wing 6 inches. 



Hab. Bouru, and probably Amboyna and Ceram. 



Remarks. — Brisson's description of this species is most accurate, 

 and, with the bird before one, cannot be mistaken. The figure in the 

 ' Planches Enluminees ' is abominable, but no doubt applies only to 

 this bird. GmeUn copies Brisson ; but makes an error which would 

 prevent one recognizing the bird, in saying that "the uppet' tail-coverts 

 are sordid white," instead of the lower. This bird is the true Treron 

 aromatica (as being an inhabitant of the Spice Islands), a name which 

 has been applied to birds of distinct species from India, Sumatra, 

 and the Pliilippine Islands. It is easily distinguished from all its 

 allies by having the top of the head ashy blue, not reaching below 

 or even to the eyes, by the broad yellow bands on the wings, and by 

 the under tail-coverts being nearly pure white in both sexes. 



Carpophaga melanura. 



Carpophaga melanura 1, G. R. Gray, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 361. 



Hab. Bouru and all the Moluccas. 



Remarks. — This species is certainly distinct and peculiar to the 

 Moluccas, C. luctuosa being found only in Celebes on the west, and 

 C. bieolor in the Papuan Islands to the east of it. Bill greenish 

 horn-colour ; tip greenish yellow ; feet lead-colour ; iris nearly black. 



Carpophaga perspicillata, var. 



Columba perspicillata, Temm. PI. Col. 246. 



Hab. Bouru, Batchian, Gilolo, and Waigiou Islands. 

 ' Remarks. — The true C. perspicillata of Temminck is probably 

 that of the islands of Ceram and Amboyna, which has the head and 

 neck of nearly the same whitish ash as the under surface of the body, 

 and the quills of a powdery-ash tint ; whereas in the specimens from 

 the Northern Moluccas and Bouru the head and sides of the neck 

 are slate-colour, the throat and breast slaty ash, and the quills purple- 

 black, with a slight ashy tinge. The bill is bluish, pale at the tip, 

 and red at the base ; the feet pale purple, and the iris brown-black. 



This variety is constant and easily distinguishable, and will pro- 

 bably be considered a distinct species by many naturalists ; and it is 

 only the absence of any perceptible difference in the form or propor- 

 tions, or of any definite markings which can be more clearly charac- 

 terized than shades of colour, which prevents me classing it as such. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1863, No. III. 



