_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
CARPOPHAGA MAGNIFICA.
Magnificent Fruit Pigeon.
_Columba magnifica_, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 125.—Ib. Pl.
Col. 163.—Wagl. Syst. Av. Columba, sp. 26.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p.
469.
_Carpophaga magnifica_, Selby in Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. v. Pigeons, p.
115.—List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part III. p. 5.
This splendid bird, the finest of the Pigeons yet discovered in
Australia, is abundant in all the brushes on the south-east portion of
that country, but is less numerous in the Illawarra district than in the
neighbourhood of the rivers Namoi, Macquarrie, Clarence and MacLeay; how
far its range may extend from thence to the northward has yet to be
ascertained; I did not observe it in any of the brushes clothing the
ranges of the interior. Its chief food is the wild fig and the nut-like
fruit of the large palms. It is rather a shy bird, and from its quiet
habits is not easily discovered, unless it betrays its presence by the
hoarse, loud and monotonous note, which is frequently uttered by the
male during the season of love. This note is so extraordinary, and so
unlike that of any other bird, that it causes the utmost surprise and
wonderment as to what it can proceed from, in the minds of those persons
who hear it for the first time.
I regret that the few opportunities I had for studying this fine bird in
a state of nature were insufficient for me to obtain any particulars
respecting its habits and economy; it appears never to descend to the
ground, but to be constantly engaged among the branches in procuring its
food; its broad hand-like feet enabling it to cling to the outermost and
even the smaller boughs with ease; and hence the utility of these
singularly constructed feet, which are common to all the Fruit Pigeons,
is readily perceptible.
The sexes present no external difference by which the male can be
distinguished from the female; dissection must, in fact, be resorted to,
to discriminate the one from the other with certainty, although the
smaller-sized individuals may generally be regarded as females.
Head and neck pale grey; all the upper surface and wings rich golden
green; the greater coverts and the tertiaries with a patch of light
yellow near the base of the outer webs, forming an irregular oblique
band across the wing; primaries green; under surface of the wing brown,
passing into cinnamon-brown at the base of the feathers; tail rich deep
bronzy green; line down the centre of the throat, and the whole of the
breast and abdomen rich deep purple; under surface of the shoulder, the
thighs and vent deep gamboge-yellow; under tail-coverts greenish grey,
washed with gamboge-yellow.
The Plate represents an adult male somewhat less than the natural size.
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