272 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



tensis have been known to naturalists since the time of Latham and 

 Gmelin, it does not appear that any name has been given to the 

 former until described as a neio discovery by Mr. Peale, as above 

 cited. 



Specimens in the collection of the Expedition are from the Samoan 

 Islands. Our plate represents both sexes of this species of the size of 

 life. 



In allusion to the present and other species of Doves which inhabit 

 the Samoan Islands, Mr. Peale observes in his article on this bird : 



" The females vary but little from the males, being generally 

 smaller, and not quite so brilliant in color. The young birds are 

 entirely green until the first moult. 



" The natives of the Samoan or Navigator's Group enumerate three 

 Doves of this genus, inhabiting their islands ; the most common is the 

 Mami-tagi or Ilanii-fangi, which, in English, means crying-bird, and 

 is described above ; the next, called Mana-rua, is about the same size, 

 but entirely green. Having had the misfortune to lose our specimens 

 by the wreck of the U. S. Ship Peacock, we are unable to give a draw- 

 ing or further description of it. The third species is called Mana-ma, 

 or shame-bird, and is the one we have called La Perouse's Dove. 



" The Manu-rua is not uncommon at the Island of Upolu." 



According to Mr. Peale, the Manu-tagi (which is the bird now before 

 us), is so called by the Samoans "from its plaintive and distressful 

 note." 



As stated above, this bird is well known to naturalists. It has had 

 undoubtedly other names given to it since the publication of Mr. 

 Peale's description, above cited, and possibly before, but we cannot 

 pretend, at present, to ascertain the synonymy of this species. Such 

 an investigation would involve the examination of, and, in fact, a 

 complete study of this entire group, many of the species of which 

 intimately resemble each other, and have been constantly mistaken 

 by authors. Our plate has been carefully prepared, and fairly repre- 

 sents both sexes of this species. 



3, Ptilinopus coralensis, Peale. 



Ptilinopus coralensis, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 190 (first edition, 

 1848). 



