CARPOPHAGA MAGNIPICA. 



(Magnificent Fruit Piyeon.) 



Head, cheeks, and throat, grey ; neck, grey, shading into yellowish olive above and down the isides of the neck ; back and shoulders, golden 

 olive — the basal portions of the feathers, deep grass green ; the central wing coverts, bright grass green, ornamented with large yellow spots ; 

 secondaries, bright green with a narrow bordering of brownish yellow ; primaries, beautiful deep grass green — the inner webs, blackish ; tail, 

 deep grass green, with chestnut shafts; breast and upper portion of the abdomen, deep purplish maroon color, interrupted sometimes in a few 

 places by small patches of green ; ventral portion and underneath the shoulder, rich orange ; under tail coverts, greenish yellow ; under side 

 of tail grey — the shafts, buff"; orbits, greyish blue; irides, reddish orange; bill, red at the base, the tip being horn color ; feet, greyish green, 

 with dull yellow soles ; claws, blackish horn color. The female is similar, but not quite so highly colored. 



Length, 18 inches ; wing, 8|- ; tail 6i ; bill, li ; tarsus, 1 ; middle toe. If. 



This truly magnificent bird is found in the scrubs on the Manning, Macleay, Clarence, and Eichmond rivers of New South 

 "Wales, and all the eastern rivers of southern Queensland, where it may be said to be pretty abundant. It has been obtained in the lUawarra 

 district, which is probably its southern limit. This species is confined to the country bordering tbe sea, never being found far inland. Its 

 favorite food is the wild fig ; other fruits and berries found in the coast brushes are also greedily devoured. It is gregarious in flocks of ten 

 to twenty or more, and although from its feeding upon the tops of the towering and widely spreading trees which far overtop the general 

 growth of the brushes, it is somewhat difficult to be obtained, it cannot be termed shy. Mr. Coxen informs me that he has known instances 

 in which a sportsman has ascended high into a feeding tree, and, from the advantage of his position, obtained a number of specimens before 

 the birds were sufficiently alarmed (even after successive discharges of the gun) to take their departure. The ffight of C. Magnifica is heavy 

 and cumbrous, and its note is a peculiar bubbling, cooing, hoarse sound. The natives on the Manning call it " Bubblo Bubblo Maru," from 

 its note. It builds a nest, rather carelessly constructed, with a few sticks, and placed in the fork of a tree in the midst of the scrub. The 

 eggs are two in number, white, and about 1^ inch in length. The flesh is dark in color, but very good eating, in the winter time being so fat 

 that it is difficult to get a perfect specimen, as on falling from the tree when shot it generally bursts. 



