Pigeons of the Malay Archipelago. 395 



it is probably free from the attacks of carnivorous mammals. 

 On New Guinea, where there are none such, it is found on the 

 mainland. 



GouRA, Flem. 



117. GouRA CORONATA, L. ; Knip, Pig. i. t. 1; Bp. Consp. 

 ii. p. 96. 



Hab. Waigiou, Mysol, New Guinea [Wall). 



Iris orange-crimson ; legs whitish, powdery ; feet red ; bill 

 dusky horn-colour. A ground feeder ; gizzard very muscular, 

 containing large pebbles. Dampier, in the year 1699, was pro- 

 bably the first Englishman who saw this bird. His description 

 is full and accurate : — " One of my men killed a stately land- 

 fowl, as big as the largest dunghill- cock. It was of a sky-colour; 

 only in the middle of the wings was a white spot, about which 

 were some reddish spots. On the crown it had a large bunch of 

 long feathers, which appeared very pretty. His bill was like a 

 pidgeon^s. His crop was full of small berries. It lays an egg 

 as big as a large hen's egg ; for our men climbed the tree where 

 it nested, and brought off one egg.'^ 



118. GouRA VICTORIA, Fraser, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1844, p. 27; 

 Gray & Mitchell, Gen. of Birds, ii. t. 120; Bp. Consp. ii.p. 96. 



Hab. Jobie Island (North of New Guinea). 



Remark. — I obtained information of the true habitat of this 

 species from the traders, who frequently bring it alive to the 

 Moluccas. 



The island of Jobie would probably furnish many novelties to 

 an explorer, since, besides this fine and very distinct species, the 

 only other birds which have as yet been received from it are two 

 Parrots, Lorius cyanauchen and Eos cyanogenia, which are equally 

 distinct from the allied species inhabiting the mainland of New 

 Guinea. It is to be regretted that the natives of Jobie have a 

 disagreeable habit of putting to death such strangers as visit 

 them ; for naturalists may perhaps be thereby deterred from 

 undertaking the exploration of the island. 



