PTILONOPUS SUPERBUS. 
Superb Fruit-Pigeon. 
Colombe poukiobou, Columba superba, Temm., Les Pig., fol. 2nd fam. p. 75, pl. 33.—Ibid. Pig. et Gall., 8vo, tom. i, 
pp. 277, 474. 
Turs lovely species was originally figured and described in the splendid work on the Pigeons by Madame 
Knip and my friend M. Temmincek 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 by 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 be 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 wing's 
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 ; band 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. 
