9. EOS INSULARIS. 



(THE INSULAR LORY.) 

 [Plate XIL] 



Eos insularis, Guillemard, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 565, pi. xxxiv. ; Salvadori, Ibis, 1886, p. 154; 

 id. Mem. R. Ac. Sc. Tor. ser. 2, xl. p. 169 (1889) ; id. Cat. of Birds in Brit. Mus. xx. 

 p. 27. 



Red, including upper surface of tail ; head red ; a purple collar round the neck ; a purple spot on the 

 occiput. 



Habitat. Weeda Islands to the S.E. of Halmahera. 



No specimen of this beautiful bird exists in tbe British Museum. "VVe have again, therefore, 

 to thank the Hon. Walter Rothschild for his kindness in lending us the fine specimen which 

 Mr. Keulemans has represented on Plate XII. 



Count Salvadori considers this species as one intermediate between E. riciniata (from 

 the Halmahera group) and E. wallacei (from Waigiou, Guebe, and Batanta), and in this he 

 is plainly right. 



This species certainly much resembles E. wallacei, but the black on the wings is less 

 marked, the great dull violet patch formed by the scapulars is absent, and there is a 

 small violet patch on the head. 



The general colour is red, including the upper and under surfaces of the tail, the upper 

 tail-coverts, the thighs, the neck, and the whole of the head, save the violet spot before 

 mentioned, the breast, and towards the vent. A purple collar surrounds the neck, and 

 feathers more or less purple, or, at least, with purple ends, form a purple patch on the lower 

 breast. The under tail-coverts are purplish. The scapulars are red, the longest ones more 

 or less dull reddish purple. The wings are red generally, but the primaries have one web 

 red at the base ; the secondaries and greater wing-coverts are red with black tips. The 

 under surface of the wing is red, save the black band formed by the apices of the quill- 

 feathers. The bill is orange, yellow at the tip. The iris is red, and the feet black. 



Total length 10 - 6 inches, wing 5 - 5. 



Dr. P. H. H. Guillemard describes both the nuchal and pre-pectoral violet collars as 

 small, and the violet of the abdomen as not passing upwards on to the breast. The iris, he 

 says, is red. He adds (op. cit. p. 565) : — " The individuals are alike, except that in one the 

 occipital spot is partially connected with the nuchal collar. The bird, however, is apparently 

 moulting." He adds a caution against confounding the Weeda Islands (a coral group east of 

 the south end of Halmahera) with " Weeda " on the mainland of Halmahera. 



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