274 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



nize specific characters which, in the course of general or usual zoolo- 

 gical investigations, would not be regarded as unexceptionable. 



The present bird is nearly allied to Ptilinopns imrpuratits (Gm.), 

 which is P. taitensis (Less.). The color of the head, neck, and breast, 

 the general colors of the upper parts, and the wide terminal band of 

 the tail, are almost precisely the same, but the bill of this bird is pure* 

 yellow, and its abdomen is of the same color. We cannot but regard as 

 quite possible, however, that it is the young of either that or another 

 allied species. This bird belongs strictly to the same group as the 

 two preceding, and is regarded by the Prince Bonaparte, in his Mono- 

 graph, as a distinct genus, under the not very euphonious nor classic 

 name, Kiirutreron. 



Mr. Peale's note on this species is as follows : 



" This beautiful Dove was the first bird which attracted our atten- 

 tion at the Island of CarlshofF, by its plaintive lioot-hoot-hoot, uttered 

 in rapid succession. The* woodland being of very limited extent, Ave 

 thought it would be an easy matter to find it, but were mistaken, for 

 although the Doves were not wild, their curiosity induced them to sit 

 still on being approached, and their delicate plumage accorded so well 

 with the beautiful green of the foliage, that it was very difficult to see 

 them. 



" Specimens were subsequently obtained, during the month of Sep- 

 tember, on most of the low coral islets of the Paumotu Group, but no- 

 where else ; most of them were males. Their retreats were always in 

 the most wooded and secluded places." 



This bird is represented in our plate of the natural size. 



4. Ptilinopus Perousii, Peale. 



PtiUnopus Perousii, Peale, Zool. U. S. Exp. Exp. Birds, p. 195 (1st ed. 1848). 

 Ptilinopus Mariir, Jacq. & PucH. Zool. Yoy. Astrol. and Zelee, III, p. 115 (1853). 

 Voj. Astrolabe and Zelee, Ois. PI. XXIX, fig. 2. 



Atlas, Ornitholog}', Plate XXXIII. Male, female, and young. 



Capite supra ei vitta dorsali sauguineis. Corpore supra viridescenti- 

 fia vo, suhtus flavescenti-alha, fascia pallide aurantiaca pectorali. Long, 

 iot. 7i pnlUces. 



