PTILINOPUS SUPERBUS. 
Superb Fruit-Pig*eori. 
Colombe pouMobou, Columba superba, Temm. Les. Pig., fol. 2nd fam., p. 75. pi. 33. — Ibid. Pig. et Gall., 8vo. 
tom. i. pp. 277, 474. 
This lovely species was originally figured and described in the splendid work on the Pigeons hy Madame 
Knip and my friend M. Temminck as an inhabitant of one of the islands of the Pacific Ocean ; and it affords 
me much pleasure to be enabled to include a representation of it among my illustrations of the Fauna of 
Australia, specimens having been procured by Mr. Bynoe on Booby Island, which lies off the north coast. 
In all probability it enjoys an extensive range over the islands of New Guinea as well as over all parts 
of Northern Australia, wherever suitable situations occur. The specimens procured hy Mr. Bynoe were 
fortunately male and female : the latter sex exhibits in its plumage traces of immaturity ; but whether the 
rich colouring of the crown of the head is at all times absent is a point yet to he ascertained, a knowledge 
of which would greatly tend to clear up the confusion which reigns throughout this gorgeously-coloured 
group of Pigeons. 
The male has the crown of the head of a very deep rich purple ; sides of the head and occiput olive- 
green ; sides and back of the neck bright rufous ; shoulders very dark bluish black ; all the upper surface 
and wings deep yellowish green, tinged with rufous ; the scapularies and tertiaries with a spot of deep 
green near the extremity ; primaries and secondaries black, slightly margined externally near the tip with 
pale yellow ; tail grey at the base, to which succeeds a broad band of black, glossed particularly on the 
central feathers with green ; beyond this the tips are white, all but the outer ones washed with green ; 
chin white ; breast grey, below which a band of black ; abdomen and under tail-coverts white, the latter 
with a stripe of olive down the centre ; hand crossing the flanks and another crossing the thighs olive- 
green ; feet orange ; bill dark horn-colour. 
The female has the crown of the head and all the upper surface yellowish green, with a small spot of 
deep blue near the tips of the scapularies ; primaries and secondaries black, slightly edged with yellow ; at 
the occiput a large patch of deep green ; chin grey ; centre of breast greenish grey ; flanks green ; centre 
of abdomen straw-yellow. 
The figures are those of the two sexes on a plant of the north coast. 
