_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PTILINOPUS 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.
This lovely species was originally figured and described in the splendid
work on the Pigeons by 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 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
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; 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.
[Illustration: