172 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 



Professor Schlegel first described the species, in 1871; and the 

 following is a translation of the description in his 'Observations Zoo- 

 logiques :' — 



" This species is the most beautiful of the genus. It has been discovered 

 on the island of Mafoor " [as was stated by Dr. Meyer, anted, part xii. 

 p. (54, under the head of P. miqueli*], "and also on the island of Soek, 

 where it appears to represent both P. rivoU and P. miqueli from the islands 

 of Meosnoum and Jobie, — though P. speciosus is smaller than either and is 

 distinguished in a remarkable manner by the fine and vivid citron-yellow 

 w^hich occupies more than the upper half of the large white band of the 

 breast-feathers, further because the large red patch on the breast and belly 

 is much lighter than in the other species and offers, instead of a dark purple- 

 red or violet, a fine purple-lilac, also because its head, green and bronzed on 

 the sides, does not present any other trace of red than a dark violet patch on 

 the lores ; finally it is known by the total want of blackish patches on the 

 scapularies. The abdomen and the under tail-coverts are both of a fine 

 citron-yellow. 



" The female is coloured exactly like the females of Ptilopus rivolii and 

 P. rosenhergiif, from w^hich it is distinguished by its small size ; the yellow 

 on the abdomen and the under tail-coverts is less pure than in the male ; and 

 the green of the belly is varied with yellow up to the breast. 



" M. von Rosenberg has sent us a very fine series of this species, which 

 has the following measurements— wing 3" 11'" to 4" 3'", tail 2" 1'" to 2" 3'", 

 bill from the front 6'" to 6i"'." 



The same author, in the year 1873, before he knew of Signor d'Albertis's 

 discovery of Ptilopus bellus (Sclater) on the Arfak mountains {cf. P. Z. S. 



* By this name Prof. Schlegel designates Ptilopus prasinorrhous (G. R. Gray) ; P. nvolii 

 (Prevost), according to Salvador! (Prod. Col.), only occurs on Burn, 

 t The author, uo doubt, means Ptilopus miqueli. 



