Sydney Porter—Notes on Birds of Fiji



165



The Flame Dove (Chryscena victor)


I feel that I must make a mention of this very remarkable bird,

even though I did not see it, for I am told that owing to collectors

shooting so many birds it is now rare, which is to be greatly regretted,

for it is one of the world’s most remarkable birds. About the size of

a small Turtle Dove, but much plumper in form, it is clothed with a

raiment of hair-like feathers of the most dazzling flame orange, so

bright in fact that the eyes are almost dazzled when looking at it.

A gentleman in Suva, a keen naturalist and a painter of remarkable

merit, showed me the painting of a young male in the transitionary

stage, in which it was changing from the uniform silvery pea-green

of the young bird to the glory of the adult; the bird had a ground

colour of green, but was uniformly spotted with the brilliant flame

orange, a most remarkable creature.


The flight of the male through the dark forest is said to be like

“ the passage of a rocket on a dark night


The only record of this wonderful bird being kept in captivity is

in 1875, when we are told in the P.Z.S., 1875, p. 437 : “ Mr. Kleinsmidt,

a gentleman in Laveka much addicted to natural history, has preserved

one of these birds alive for more than a year, feeding it on wild berries

fetched daily from the forest. In uttering its bark it opens its lower

mandible wide and then closes it with a snap, jerking its head at the

same moment. It is very fond of the sun, preening its feathers and

4 shaking itself together ’. If kept in the shade it mopes and sits with

feathers all puffed out and looking wretched.”


Layard, who lived in Fiji, says of this bird : “ Those . . . who have

shot the ‘ Cock of the Rock ’, can readily picture to themselves the

‘ flame ’ of the Orange Dove, as he pursues some rival through the

green forest—the eye is fairly dazzled as the orange ball on golden

wings turns and twists in the sunlight. Dull days do not suit him a bit,

and he hides away and mopes, never uttering a sound ; but with the

bright sun he emerges from his retreat and ‘ clucks ’ to his green wife

from many ‘ a cool retreat “ C. victor feeds on many sorts of


small and large berries and fruits, swallowing them whole.”


I tried hard to get hold of a pair of these birds, but was unsuccessful ;



