114 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 



only does each of the large wing-coverts close to the back present a grey 

 patch, but there is also a similar one on each of the tertiaries. 



" We confess that these characters did not appear to us important 

 enough to separate this bird from P. viridis under a specific name ; it is 

 therefore, in our view, only a local race, of this species." 



Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Col. 1873, p. 23, sub Ptilopus viridis geelvinkianus -. — 

 " Very similar to Ptilopus viridis ; but the grey of the head is darker and 

 washed with green ; the patch of the throat is more vivid, the red lighter 

 and shading less into brownish ; the whitish grey on the wing above and on 

 the tertiaries is more extended ; the grey of the apical part of the tail is not 

 bordered with yellow, and passes more or less into green ; finally, it is some- 

 what smaller in size. 



"Wing 4" to 4" 2'"; tail 2" 2'" to 2" 3'"." 



Dr. Meyer sends me the following remarks : — 



" There are four nearly related species of Ptilopus, which represent each 

 other in different localities, viz.: — P. pectoralis in New Guinea and some 

 neiofhbourina; islands to the west and north-west ; P. musschenbroekii on the 

 islands of the Geelvink Bay ; P. viridis on Cerara, Burn, and some islands 

 in the neighbourhood ; and P. eugenice on the Solomon Islands. 



" It does not appear at all probable to me that P. pectoralis also occurs 

 on Mafoor and Mysore, as stated by Von Rosenberg (Schleg. Mus. P.-B. 

 Col. 1873, p. 24), and that P. musschenbroekii also occurs on New Guinea 

 itself, as stated by the same traveller (/. c. p. 23). Should this be really the 

 case, these two species could not be looked upon as representing each other, 

 which I strongly believe they do. I got P. musschenbroekii only on Mafoor 

 and Mysore, and P. pectoralis only on New Guinea itself — viz. near Rubi, 

 Passim, and Andei, which last locality is also given to P. musschenbroekii by 

 Von Rosenberg. 



" As to the sexual coloration of the last-named two species, I have to 



