Order COLUMB^.] 



[Fam. COLUMBIDJ^ 





CAEPOPHAGA NOV.E ZEALANDI.E. 



(NEW-ZEALAND PIGEON.) 



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Columha novae seelandim, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 773 (1788). 



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Columha spadicea, Less. Voy. Coq. i. p. 710 (1826). 



Columha spadicea leucoplma, Hombr. & Jacq. Ann. Sci. Nat. xvi. p. 319 (1841) 

 Carpophaga novm seelandim. Gray, in DiefF. Trav. ii., App. p. 194 (1843). 

 Columha argetroea, Forst. Descr. An. p. 80 (1844). 



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Native names. — Kuku, Kukupa, and Kereru. 





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Ad, dorso £eneo-ferrugineo : pileo antico Isete metallice viridi, postice cum nucha et colli lateribus magis seneo 



nitentibus^ his cyanescente tinctis : dorso postico et uropygio nitide viridibus cyanescente lavatis, supra- 

 caudalibus olivascenti-viridibus seneo lavatis : tectricibus alarum minoribus et majoribus dorso proximis 

 seneo-ferrugineis dorso concoloribus^ majoribus et medianis exterioribus nitide viridibus : remigibus 

 Tiigris supra cyanescenti-viridi nitentibuSj secundariis teneo lavatis : caud^ nigra suprk saturate viridi 

 lavataj subtus nigricante^ pennis omnibus versus apicem cinerascentibus : facie laterali cum gutture toto 

 et pcctore superiore Isetissime metallice viridibus : corpore reliquo subtus pure albo : subcaudalibus cine- 

 rascentibus : subalaribus cinereis : rostro coccineo^ versus apicem flavicante : pedibus coccineis : iridc 

 coccine^^ annulo ophthalmico pallide rubro. 



Adult male. Head, neck, and fore part of breast shining gold-green, changing according to the angle of 

 view ; nape, shoulders, and upper surface of wings, as far as the carpal joint, coppery purple, with bright 

 metallic reflections where this colour blends with the green of the surrounding parts ; back and rump 



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greyish green, with dull metallic reflections ; quills and their coverts bronzy green, with the inner webs 

 dusky, the secondaries tinged with coppery purple ; an obscure band of grey (more conspicuous in the 

 young bird) crosses the outer webs of the primaries, being widest on the fifth and sixth quills ; tail- 

 feathers black, with blue reflections on their edges, and terminally margined with brown ; under surface 

 of tail-feathers silvery grey towards the base, especially on the outer ones, blackish in their apical por- 

 tion, with lighter tips ; their upper coverts dull shining green ; underparts from the breast downwards 

 pure white, the lower tail-coverts tinged with yellow; lining of wings delicate ash-grey. The line of 

 demarcation between the lustrous green and the white is well defined, crossing the breast ^^ath an easy 

 curve and terminating immediately above the insertion of the wings, so that when the bird is at rest a 

 narrow margin of white appears over the bend of each wing. Irides and feet carmine-red; soles yellow 

 and covered with small flattened papillse; claws black; bill carmine-red in its basal half, changing to 

 yellow towards the tip ; eyelids pale red, with a reticulate margin, imparting to the brilliantly coloured 

 eyes a very soft expression. Total length 21 inches; extent of wing 32; wing,' from flexure, 10"75 • 



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