GYMNOPHAPS PCECILORRHOA. 
Rusty-banded Fruit-Pig-eon. 
Carpophaga poecilorrhoa, Briiggem. Abhancll. iiat. Vereine zu Bremen, v. p. 84 . 
The genus Gymnopliaps was instituted in 1874 by Count Salvadori ; and the type is Gymnophaps alberiisi, a 
fine Fruit-Pigeon discovered at Andei in North-western New Guinea by Signor D’Albertis. Up to the time of 
writing I have not seen that species ; and I am unable to say whether the bird which I figure on the accom- 
panying Plate is really congeneric Avith the Papuan Gymnophaps, My friend Dr. Meyer, who lends me the 
specimen which I figure, has attached to it the name of Gymnophaps poecUorrhoa (Briiggem.) ; and on 
comparing Count Salvadori’s description of the genus, which is remarkable for its bare loral patch extending 
round the eye, I should say that Dr. Meyer is quite right in placing the species in the genus Gymnophaps. 
The present bird is remarkable for its very plain coloration, differing in this respect from the majority 
of the subfamily CarpopliagiuEe, many of which arc of beautifully varied plumage. But though Gymnophaps 
poecilorrhoa is a somewhat dull-coloured bird, the monotony of its plumage is slightly relieved by the hands 
on the abdomen and the dark-centred under tail-coverts. 
Nothing has yet been recorded of the habits or economy of this strange Pigeon ; nor do Ave knoAv the 
exact part of the island of Celebes from Avhich it comes. It is probably from the south-eastern portion of the 
island, where Dr. Fischer collected, as neither Mr. Wallace nor Dr, Meyer nor any of the old Dutch 
travellers ajipear to have come across the species in any of the places visited by them. 
I append a full description of the species — ■ 
General colour above dusky brown shot AAoth olive-green ; quills brown, Avith narroAV reddish margins to 
the outer web, as well as the greater Aving-covcrts ; tail blackish, tipped with a narrow band of huffy white ; 
head dusky grey, somewhat more vinous on the hind neck, the forehead lighter grey; cheeks, ear-coverts, 
and throat dull vinous ; loAver throat darker ashy, as also the adjacent sides of the neck ; the chest light 
ashy, extending onto the sides of the neck, and forming a conspicuous patch on the sides of the mantle ; 
remainder of under surface broAvn, mottled with reddish-ochre margins to the feathers ; under tail-coverts 
dark brown, with broad edgings of reddish ochre; under Aving-coverts dusky hroAAm, the axillaries rufous 
brown ; undersurface of quills dark ashy broAvn. 
The specimen figured in the accompanying Plate is in the Dresden Museum, and Avas lent to me by 
Dr. Meyer for the purposes of the present work. The species is represented about the size of life. 
