=================+==========+=============+================+==========
SUBSPECIES | Number | Wing | Exposed culmen | Tarsus
-----------------+----------+-------------+----------------+----------
| | | |
_D. o. monacha_ | 8 males |228 (219-233)| |36 (34-37)
| 6 females|221 (214-228)|22.5 (22.0-23.0)|31 (29-33)
| | | |
_D. o. teraokai_ | 5 males |230 (225-237)|23.5 (23.0-25.0)|34 (33-35)
| 8 females|231 (221-238)|23.0 (21.5-24.5)|34 (33-35)
| | | |
_D. o. townsendi_| 8 males |226 (211-234)|24.0 (23.5-25.0)|34 (32-35)
| 5 females|226 (215-233)|24.0 (23.0-24.5)|33 (32-34)
| | | |
_D. o. oceanica_ | 4 males |222 (217-228)|25.0 (24.5-26.0)|35 (34-36)
|13 females|219 (213-226)|24.0 (23.0-25.0)|32 (30-34)
| | | |
_D. o. | | | |
ratakensis_[B] | 6 males | (211-217)| (25.0-27.0)|
| 3 females| (208-213)| (25.0-26.0)|
-----------------+----------+-------------+----------------+----------
[B] From Takatsukasa and Yamashina (1932:221).
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 17 (9 males, 8 females), as
follows: Palau Islands, USNM--Garakayo, 1 (Sept. 19)--Peleliu, 7
(Aug. 27, 28, 29, Sept. 4, 5); AMNH--Palau, 9 (Oct., Nov. 13, 15,
21, Dec. 1).
_Nesting._--Yamashina (1932a:408) records the finding of one egg at
Yap on December 3, 1930. The NAMRU2 party obtained no evidence of
breeding activity of these pigeons at the Palaus in August and
September, 1945. Coultas, in November and December of 1931,
obtained birds with enlarged gonads at Palau. Probably the nesting
season begins in November or December.
_Food habits._--The pigeons feed on both fruits and green stuffs.
The NAMRU2 party found berries, fruit parts and green plant
materials in stomachs of birds taken in September, 1945. The birds
were found to be exceedingly fat at this time.
_Parasites._--Uchida (1918:486, 489) records the bird lice
(Mallophaga), _Goniocotes carpohagae_ and _Colopocephalum
unicolor_, from this pigeon at Palau.
_Remarks._--The Micronesian Pigeon at Palau was first observed in 1783,
when Captain Henry Wilson of the packet "Antelope" was shipwrecked in
these islands. In his account of the islands, as compiled by George
Keate (Wilson, 1788), Wilson described the large pigeons, which were
kept as pets by the natives and were eaten by only certain classes of
people. In 1826, Lesson and Garnot made first reference to the birds
found by Wilson. It was almost 100 years after Wilson's visit that the
bird was again observed; this time it was obtained by the sea captains,
Tetens and Heinsohn, and by Kubary, the collector for the Godeffroy
Museum.
It is surprising that a pigeon as large and conspicuous as this one, has
not already been exterminated by man on these small islands. Every
traveller to the islands, who has made observations, writes that the
pressure of hunting on these birds is severe. Coultas (field notes)
reports that in 1931 the birds were "very scarce and wild." He comments
that the Japanese hunters obtained the birds and received the market
price of 35 sen for each one. He writes, "There is a group of Japanese
hunters in the islands who vie with one another to see who can obtain
the most birds. They are all atrocious shots but some employ natives and
since so many of them are in the business they are inflicting
considerable damage to the bird life. During my stay there one Japanese
was sentenced to six weeks hard labor for hiring native hunters. The
native hunter who preferred charges claimed that money was due him for
having shot some 3,500 birds and the account had been standing over a
year." Price (1936b:491) shows a picture of a captive pigeon at Palau.
The natives used this bird as a calling decoy to attract others within
range of their blowguns.
The NAMRU2 party observed pigeons at all islands visited in August and
September, 1945. At Peleliu, the pigeons were found to be restricted to
relatively undisturbed areas where tall trees remained or where shrubs
were present on the faces of overhanging cliffs. The shrubs on cliffs
were favorite roosting places. Although the pigeons remained in these
relatively inaccessible areas, they were not especially difficult to
obtain with shotguns. I can see that it might be difficult for unarmed
hunters to obtain the birds. The present writer (1946b:210) has recorded
the extensive utilization of pigeons, rails and megapodes by Japanese
troops and by their prisoners of war at Babelthuap and Koror during the
latter part of the war.
During our stay at Peleliu we were unable to learn whether the pigeon
was still present at Pulo Anna (Current Island), a coral island some 160
miles southeast of Peleliu. The U. S. Navy frequently dispatched a ship
to the island, but we did not learn of it until our stay at Peleliu was
nearly over. Dr. C. K. Dorsey, then of the U. S. Naval Epidemiology Unit
at Peleliu, reported that various kinds of birds were numerous at Pulo
Anna, but he did not recall seeing the pigeon. This pigeon may occur
also at Fais, a raised coral island west of Yap and Ulithi in the
Carolines. I know of no reports dealing with the avifauna of this
phosphate island, but I examined several pictures, taken by Navy landing
parties and the Military Government personnel, which show the island to
be covered with extensive and luxuriant vegetation. I suspect that an
intensive survey of the island will reveal several new records for
birds.
=Ducula oceanica teraokai= (Momiyama)