PIGEON. f>3 



green ; the head first gets the red colour by degrees, the lower parts 

 next become lighter, and only get the full whiteness when mature ; 

 the red spot on the breast is the last colour that appears, and it is 

 doubtful whether the female ever has it. 



74— PURPLE-CROWNED PIGEON. 



Columba purpurata, Ind. Orn. ii. 598. Gm. Lin. i. 784. 



Colombe Kurukuru, Temm. Pig.fol. pi. 34. 35. — male and female. Id. 8vo. i. p. 280. 



Purple-crowned Pigeon, Gen. Syn. iv. 626. Bong. Voy. 247. 329 ? 



LENGTH nine inches. Bill yellowish ; irides pale yellow ; 

 forehead to the middle of the crown purple ; head, neck, and under 

 parts of the body, pale green, inclining to ash-colour ; vent and 

 under tail coverts yellow ; upper parts of the body beautiful deep 

 green, very glossy ; quills black, the two outer plain, the others 

 edged with green ; second quills fringed with yellow ; tail three 

 inches and a half long, even at the end, the feathers pointed, colour 

 greenish black, margined outwardly with green ; and when spread 

 open, a greyish bar appears near the end, but it is interrupted, this 

 colour occupying only the inner webs; legs rough, dusky black. 



Inhabits Otaheite ; described by a specimen brought from thence, 

 where it is not uncommon ; but these birds are subject to great 

 variety, according to the different Islands which they inhabit, for 

 they are found throughout the Pacific Ocean, within the Tropics. 

 At Otaheite the crown is faint purple ; at Ulietea, and some other 

 Islands, deeper ; the specimens from Tongo taboo have the crown 

 exceedingly deep and vivid purple, which is surrounded with yellow: 

 in one, the bill is dusky ; vent almost orange ; legs deep red. Some 

 have not the least trace of red on the crown ; but whether such are 

 different in sex, or young birds, has not been determined. At 

 Otaheite this bird is called Oopa, or Oopara. At Tongo taboo, 

 Kurukuru. It lives on Bananas, and is easily tamed. Whether the 



