Order COLUMBIFOEMES.] 



[Family TEBEONID^E. 





HEMIPHACxA CHATHAMENSIS. 



(CHATHAM-ISLAND PIGEON.) 



Carpophaga chathamensis, Rothschild, P.Z.S., 1891, p. 312, Plate xxvii. 

 Carpophaga chathamica, Forbes, Nature, xlvi, p. 253 (1892). 



The exhibition at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London of a series of specimens of 

 the Wood-pigeon from the Chatham Islands, characterized as a new species, under the above 

 name, shows how important it is to collect and examine even the apparently most common 

 species. We had always known that the Wood-pigeon existed at the Chathams, but till these 

 specimens were received in England, no one ever suspected that it was a different species from 

 that inhabiting New Zealand. Mr. Henry Travers made a large collection of birds there, but he 

 appears to have avoided this bird as being too common, and so the new species was missed by 

 him altogether. The Maoris, who are only practical ornithologists, do not seem to have detected 

 any difference between this bird and the ' Kereru ' of their old home. As far back at 1855, when 

 visiting those islands on Government business, I saw some wild Wood-pigeons consorting with 

 tame Blue Bock Pigeons introduced by the settlers; but on the wing they were quite undis- 

 tinguishable from our New Zealand bird, and I did not attempt to shoot any. 



Confessedly fine as the New Zealand Wood-pigeon is, this species exceeds it both in size and 

 comeliness, although, as a rule, its plumage is not quite so brilliant. There is a mounted 

 specimen in the British Museum Gallery which shows it off to perfection. 



It is one-fifth larger than HemipJiaga nove-zealandice and is "purple and pearl-grey where 

 the latter is green and bronze-red." 



Dr. Forbes, who recognised the bird as distinct about the same time as Mr. Bothschild, 

 writes : ( This Pigeon is now becoming scarce, and at present is most abundant on the 

 south coast, where it loves to play in the strong up-current that towers into the air, 

 rebounding from the perpendicular face of the cliffs when a strong sea-breeze is blowing ; and on 

 the north coast, on the estate of Mr. Chudleigh, who does all he can to protect the native birds, 

 by prohibiting their being shot on his property." 



At page 40 I have quoted Mr. Dall's account of the New Zealand Pigeon consorting with 

 tame ones. The same thing has been remarked of the English Wood-pigeon. Thus the Daily 

 Telegraph of October 1st, 1899, had the following paragraph :— " Has the Wood-pigeon, which 

 has invaded London in considerable numbers during the past season, come to stay ? Two speci- 

 mens of this bird have for the past day or two been noticed, in the neighbourhood of Westminster 

 Abbey, pecking in company with kindred columbarians of the tame breed, apparently in perfect 

 amity. Possibly the strangers have been hatched this year in the metropolitan area, and thus 

 have been acclimatised to the bustle of traffic. Anyhow, although the Wood-pigeon is naturally 

 shy, the pair alluded to seem to be as tame as the town birds." 



On his last visit to the Islands, the late Mr. Hawkins wrote to me : " The Pigeon on the 

 Chatham Islands is nearly extinct. I have been out every day for two weeks and only got four, 

 and one of those was spoilt in the shooting." 



