Soles very broad; tarsus stout, more or less feathered; bill stout or large; gape very wide in some; nostril covering flat or somewhat swollen; tail moderate in length, nearly square; medium to large sized species.
This genus differs from the other green pigeons in having the horny portion of culmen extending back to frontal feathers; a small naked area around eye; pattern and colors of the plumage very similar to those of Osmotreron axillaris.
Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Steere, Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, White). Nepal to Burma, Malay Peninsula, Siam, Cochin China, Tenasserim, Borneo.
Adult male.—Crown ashy, forehead lighter; face and neck dark gray, the latter followed by a narrow line of ashy gray; mantle, including lesser wing-coverts, dark chestnut; lower back, rump, and tail-coverts dark green; under parts yellowish green, breast more yellowish; thighs and flanks darker and greener, mixed with white; under tail-coverts cinnamon; wings black; median and greater wing-coverts and secondaries edged with yellow; some of the inner secondaries tipped with green; tail above, ashy gray with a black band some distance from the tip, but the median rectrices green and the next two partly green. “Legs and feet vary from lake-pink to coral-red; orbital skin pea-green; the irides vary from bright orange to yellowish red, with an inner, deep-blue ring more or less apparent; gape and base of upper mandible to nostril bright red; rest of bill pale yellowish, or greenish white, tipped with greenish.” (Hume.) Two males from Palawan measure: Length, 250, 260; wing, 132, 136; tail, 89, 87; culmen from base, 20, 21; tarsus, 19.8, 20.
Adult female.—Differs from the male in having the mantle dark green like lower back; under tail-coverts buffy white with large pointed shaft-marks of dark green. A female from Palawan measures: Length, 250; wing, 130; tail, 84; culmen from base, 20; tarsus, 20.
“Two females measure: Length, 210; culmen, 20; wing, 130; tail, 74; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 29. Iris with outer orange and inner brown ring; bill yellow, red at base of lower mandible.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
This genus resembles Osmotreron, but it has a longer and more strongly graduated tail and the hard portion of the upper mandible is shorter.
Pú-nay, Calayan; a-ri-da-uang′, Batan.
Batan (McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor).
Adult male.—General color above olive-green, lighter and grayish on neck and sides of neck; crown ochraceous-buff; lower parts uniform green from chin to abdomen; middle of abdomen white, washed with pale yellow; sides blue-gray; flanks and thighs dark olive-green, mixed with fine lines of pale yellow; under tail-coverts pale yellowish (the longest buffy), each with a wide, dark olive-green shaft-mark; shoulders maroon connected by a maroon band across the back; primaries and secondaries black; secondaries and greater coverts with narrow margins of pale yellow; inner secondaries and tail dark green like back; tail black below with a narrow gray tip. Bill light blue, the tip whitish; skin about eye blue; inner ring of eye clear blue, outer ring pink, a dusky intermediate ring; legs dull carmine, nails pale blue. Length, about 355; three specimens measure: Wing, 188 to 197; tail, 125 to 130; exposed culmen, 19 to 20; tarsus, 24 to 27; middle toe with claw, 38 to 40.
Adult female.—Differs from the male in lacking the ochraceous of crown and the maroon of shoulders and back, the entire upper parts being green. Three specimens measure: Wing, 185 to 189; tail, 118 to 125; culmen, 19 to 19.5; tarsus, 24 to 27; middle toe with claw, 35.5 to 37.5.
This species is closely related to Sphenocercus formosæ and specimens of the two species should be compared. It is not uncommon in Calayan and Camiguin. We were first led to search for it by hearing its weird, prolonged cry which is remarkably like that of a child in pain. Having located the tree in which one of these birds was resting it was difficult to see the bird as its yellowish green under parts were in perfect harmony with the color of the leafy branches.
Length, 280 to 305 mm.; colors largely yellow or olive-green; primaries black; secondaries and coverts with conspicuous yellow borders; tail nearly square, moderate in length; under tail-coverts very long, equaling or slightly exceeding rectrices; bill short and moderately stout; feathers covering proximal tarsal joint.
Pú-nay, in general use.
Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Everett, McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Guimaras (Meyer, Murray, Steere Exp.); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett, Meyer, Whitehead, McGregor); Masbate (McGregor); Mindanao (Steere, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow, Celestino); Mindoro (Everett, McGregor, Porter); Negros (Meyer, Steere, Everett, Keay); Panay (Murray, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Romblon (McGregor); Samar (Whitehead); Semirara (Worcester); Sibay (Porter); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino); Tablas (Celestino); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor).
Adult male.—Top of head and a narrow band in front of mantle pearl-gray, darker on crown; mantle and lesser coverts rich maroon, forming a wide band across the back; rest of upper parts (except wings) and lower parts, except as beyond, yellowish green, duller and greener on neck and face, darker and richer on rump and tail-coverts, lighter and yellower on lower parts; flanks and thighs dark olive-green; under tail-coverts white, their tips light yellow; wings black; inner secondaries, and median and greater coverts edged with clear lemon-yellow; outer secondaries edged with pale straw-yellow; tail black below with a wide, gray terminal band. Iris light glistening blue; bill dark red at base, bluish beyond nostrils; feet and nails lead-blue. Length, 280 to 305; three males measure: Wing, 153 to 158; tail, 98 to 100; culmen from base, 20 to 23; tarsus, 23 to 24.
Adult female.—Somewhat similar to the male but general coloration darker and greener; edging of wing-coverts paler; maroon of mantle and wings and gray band in front of mantle wanting; under tail-coverts with narrow, dark-green shaft-lines. A female from Lubang measures: Wing, 165; tail, 104; culmen from base, 21; tarsus, 22.
This very showy dove is usually found feeding in fruit trees and often in company with the smaller, congeneric species, O. vernans, but the latter is a much rarer bird.
Bongao (Everett); Meimbun (Everett?); Sibutu (Everett); Sulu (Burbidge, Guillemard, Everett).
“Osmotreron everetti resembles O. axillaris from the Philippines, but is altogether a larger bird; the purplish chestnut mantle is bordered above by a very conspicuous interscapulary band of lavender-gray, of the same color as the crown; this color is of a lighter shade than in O. axillaris and the interscapulary band is much less distinct and not so pure gray in the latter. In O. everetti the green of the neck and breast is a shade lighter and more tinged with yellow, the abdomen paler and more grayish along the middle. Length, about 279; wing, 161 to 165 (♀ 162 to 165); tail, 91 to 92; bill, 19; tarsus, 23. ‘Iris greenish silvery’ (Everett); ‘iris pearly green; bill red at base, blue at tip; feet pale slate.’ (Guillemard.) I have no female of true O. axillaris to compare, but the female of O. everetti seems to be the larger, and the mantle much darker olive.” (Rothschild.)
I have seen no specimens of Everett’s green pigeon.
Pú-nay. in general use.
Bantayan (McGregor); Basilan (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (Everett, McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cebu (Everett, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Luzon (Meyer, Heriot, Steere Exp., McGregor); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow); Mindoro (McGregor, Porter); Negros (Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Palawan (Everett, Platen, Whitehead, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, White); Panay (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Siasi (Guillemard); Sibay (Porter); Siquijor (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino). Celebes, Malay Peninsula, Indo-Malay Islands, Indo-Chinese provinces.
Adult male.—Head, chin, and upper throat blue-gray, darkest on crown; forehead, sides of face, chin, and throat faintly greenish; neck all round and sides of head behind eye lavender-gray, forming a narrow band on hind neck and a wide patch on lower throat, followed by a patch of deep orange on breast; lower breast and abdomen yellowish green, clear lemon-yellow on middle of belly; sides and lining of wing blue-gray; flanks and thighs dark olive-green, the latter streaked with light lemon-yellow; under tail-coverts chestnut; back, rump, mantle, and secondary-coverts dull gray-green, richer green on the coverts; upper tail-coverts like rump but with a faint chestnut wash; primaries, alula, primary-coverts, and outer secondaries black; some of the primaries and secondaries edged with yellow; greater coverts broadly margined with pale yellow, forming a conspicuous band; rectrices slate-gray above, each with a black subterminal band and washed with green near the base; rectrices blackish below with narrow slate-gray tips. Base of bill black, tip pale blue; iris light yellow; legs and feet coral-pink. Salvadori quotes the following iris colors from Davidson: “Irides with three rings, the outer one rose-pink, the next prussian-blue, the innermost ultramarine-blue.” Length, 280; wing, 147; tail, 92; culmen from base, 19; tarsus, 23.
Adult female.—Nearly all green; somewhat similar to the male but darker green above; the lavender wanting on head and neck, and orange wanting on breast, these parts being dark green; under tail-coverts pale yellow, more or less washed with cinnamon on inner webs. One female from Mariveles, Bataan Province, measures: Length, 280; wing, 148; tail, 93; culmen from base, 19; tarsus, 22.
“Young male.—Resembles the female, but with some trace of the vinaceous purple color on the neck, and of the brown-orange on the breast.
“Young female.—Has the rufescent color of the upper tail-coverts scarcely visible, and the central tail-feathers more or less tinged with green.
“Some specimens have the forehead and throat more or less tinged with greenish, but they are not confined to a particular locality. I have seen in the Museum of Paris a variety entirely of a canary-yellow.” (Salvadori.)
“Its nest is a mere platform of twigs, grass-stems, tendrils, and leaves, measuring about 180 mm. in breadth. The eggs are nearly oval in form, pure white in color, and measure 31 by 24.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Length, 230 to 280 mm.; sexes alike in color; colors nearly uniform brown of various shades; a wide iridescent band on neck; primaries neither scooped nor cut; rectrices graduated and rounded and with gray tips; under tail-coverts gray or dark buff. Birds of this genus are closely related inter se, maculipectus alone showing a slight departure from the type in its mottled breast. The species fall naturally into two groups which might take the rank of subgenera were anything to be gained thereby. The first five species (see key to species), the amethystina group are rare deep-woods birds; their colors are generally darker brown than those of the leucotis group and the bill is noticeably longer and heavier, being longer than tarsus. The five species of the leucotis group are fairly common in their respective ranges; they are to be found in more open country or even on the borders of rice-fields; in this group the tarsus equals, or is slightly greater than, the culmen.
Bohol (McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Steere Exp.); Luzon (Meyer, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Goodfellow, Celestino); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Whitehead).
Adult.—A black line below eye from gape to neck; below this a line of white mixed with reddish brown; general color above dark brown, lighter on forehead and fore crown; bird held toward the light, neck and its sides, beautiful, iridescent purple and violet-blue; wing-coverts, back, rump, and tail-coverts, dark glossy green; bird held away from the light, neck and sides of neck blue or deep violet; wings, back, tail, and its coverts washed with purple; below uniform light brown except middle of abdomen and tail-coverts which are dark buff; tail dark brown with a broad, apical, gray band, the middle pair of rectrices do not show this band from above. Iris light brown; bare skin about eyes dark, dirty red; bill black; legs and feet bright carmine; nails horn-colored. Length, about 255. In a male from Bataan Province, Luzon, the wing is 140; tail, 99; culmen, 23; tarsus, 20.5. Salvadori gives the following measurements: Wing, 146; tail, 78; bill, 22; tarsus, 22.
“A rare bird in the few islands where it is found. Legs dull pink; iris dark brown; feet dark pink; nails brown; bill black. Length, 292; wing, 145; tail, 97; culmen, 25; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw, 30.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).
“Adult.—Top of head, nape, and sides of neck clear ashy gray, slightly washed with rufous on forehead; hind neck amethystine as in P. amethystina; back, rump, and upper tail-coverts brown with bronze reflections, the tail-coverts slightly more ruddy than back; four outer pairs of tail-feathers dark brown, lighter at base; two central pairs ruddy brown with bronze reflections; all the tail-feathers with ashy tips which form a distinct terminal band 6 mm. in width; shafts of tail-feathers black; wing-coverts and secondaries uniform with back; primaries dark brown, the first five sharply edged with rusty brown on outer web; a narrow black stripe under eye; sides of face, ear-coverts, fore neck, and breast rich ruddy brown, the breast with a slight metallic gloss; chin and throat lighter; abdomen and thighs fulvous brown; flanks darker with slight metallic wash; under tail-coverts clear ashy gray; shafts of tail-feathers with basal half black, apical half white; under surface of tail nearly black, the terminal gray band distinct and wider than on upper surface, measuring 15 mm. on outer pair of feathers; under wing-coverts and axillars like the flanks; under surface of quills uniform dark brown. Bill black; legs and feet dirty purplish; nails black; iris in one specimen bright yellow, in another orange-red. Length, 260; wing, 134; tail, 99; culmen, 20; tarsus, 18. Sexes alike.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
Basilan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).
“Adult.—Above dark brown with greenish reflections; amethystine spot on hind neck less blue than in P. amethystina; top of head brown, forehead slightly lighter and nape slightly darker than crown; sides of face and ear-coverts brown, paler than crown; a narrow, dark brown streak under eye; chin and throat grayish fulvous; breast pearly ash; abdomen, flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts ochraceous-brown; under surface of tail brownish black with a broad, gray, terminal band; under wing-coverts and axillars fulvous-brown; primaries with sharply defined light edges on upper web; below slightly more ashy; tail-feathers brown above with distinct terminal bands of gray, central pair with slight metallic gloss; shafts of quills black above and below except the terminal 15 mm. which are white. Bill black; feet dark pink; nails brown; iris orange-red. Length, 255; wing, 132; tail, 89; culmen, 24; tarsus, 18. A well-defined species distinguished from P. amethystina by its smaller size and the entirely different color of its under surface.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
This species is very distinct from P. amethystina being smaller and differently colored. A male measures: Length, 267; wing, 135; tail, 100; culmen from base, 25.
Cebu (Bourns & Worcester).
“Adult.—General color of upper surface as in P. brunneiceps but forehead and crown lighter, nape washed with ashy gray, and lacking metallic gloss; tail glossed with dull bronze instead of amethystine and the terminal band less strongly marked than in brunneiceps; under surface much as in brunneiceps but everywhere darker; under tail-coverts ashy gray, slightly tipped with fulvous; tail much as in brunneiceps, the outer web of outer pair of feathers being, however, light brown; basal half of shafts dirty whitish; apical fourth white, rest brown. Iris pale orange; bill black; legs and feet purple; nails light brown. Sexes alike. Length, 260; wing, 140; tail, 100; culmen, 51; tarsus, 21.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
The length of culmen given above (2 inches in original description) is undoubtedly an error.
Negros (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
“Adult male.—Upper surface exactly as in P. amethystina except that the primaries are slightly darker; dark brown stripe under eye extending from gape through ear-coverts to hind neck; below this a white stripe and a second shorter dark stripe below the latter; cheeks fulvous brown; chin and throat more ruddy brown; breast clear ashy gray, each feather having an edging distinctly lighter than its center, producing a beautiful mottled appearance; feathers on center of fore breast washed with brown and forming a distinct patch; feathers of abdomen lack the dark centers, and their edges washed with light brown; thighs and under tail-coverts cinnamon-brown, much lighter than in P. amethystina; under surface of tail-feathers dark brown, nearly black, with faint metallic gloss and a broad, gray, terminal band; shafts of feathers black changing to white at tips; under surface of wing and axillars uniform fulvous brown. Bill black; feet dark pink; nails dark brown, nearly black. Wing, 145; tail, 115; culmen, 26; tarsus, 20. Length not taken from birds in flesh. This beautiful species was obtained in the Island of Negros on the mountains of the interior, where it is by no means common. It is distinguished from all the other species of the genus by its fine mottled breast.” (Bourns and Worcester.)
Ba-to ba-to tu-loc, Manila; cu-lu-cu-luc, Lubang.
Catanduanes (Whitehead); Luzon (Meyer, Heriot, Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor); Mindoro (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Everett, McGregor, Porter).
Adult.—A black line from gape to nape below eye; below this a white line from opposite the posterior border of eye to nape; above, general color brown; forehead and crown dark gray; below brown; chin, upper throat, and cheeks ruddy fulvous; lower breast and abdomen slightly ochraceous, much paler posteriorly; under tail-coverts dark pearl-gray; wings brown; primaries with pale edges; rectrices brown, each with a wide, terminal, gray band. Metallic reflections; specimen held toward the light, occiput, neck, sides of neck, throat, breast, sides of body, and flanks bronze-green; a blue collar on hind neck and a blue band across interscapulars; back, rump, and wing-coverts touched with purple; when specimen is held away from the light the blue bands change to green; the green of neck and lower parts becomes purple; the back, wing-coverts, tail-coverts, and rectrices are touched with violet and dark purple. Iris varies, usually mottled pinkish surrounded by a narrow white ring or a pale blue ring; bill black; legs carmine; nails horn-brown. Length, about 235. Three males average: Wing, 134; tail, 81; culmen from base, 18; tarsus, 20.
Four eggs taken by Whitehead at Cape Engaño in May, 1895, are “glossy and measure from 26.5 to 28.5 in length, and from 19.5 to 20 in breadth.” (Oates.)
“Fairly common in deep woods. Breeds in April. Legs and feet deep pink; nails brown. Length, 260; wing, 127; tail, 95; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 29.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
This species is fairly abundant in the islands where it occurs. Several nests were found in Mindoro; they were constructed of twisted plant tendrils which material gave the nests the appearance of being made of spiral springs. The nest was invariably placed in a small tree and rested on a horizontal branch at from 2 to 6 meters from the ground. Eggs and nestlings were found from April 8 to May 6.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor).
Adult (sexes similar).—“Similar to P. leucotis, but the rufous throat more vinous, and the occiput of a coppery amethystine, very conspicuous; the back and wings of a more greenish hue. ‘Iris light warm brown; bill black; feet carmine.’ (Everett.) Length, about 230; wing, 127; tail, 91; bill, 15; tarsus, 20.” (Salvadori.)
“Iris purple; legs and feet dark pink; nails brown; bill black. Length, 250; wing, 126; tail, 86; culmen, 18; tarsus, 18.5; middle toe with claw, 28. Abundant in Basilan. A deep woods bird.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Tuc-mó, Masbate, Ticao, and in general use.
Cebu (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Layard, Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Keay); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult.—Very similar to Phapitreron leucotis but smaller; chin, sides of face, and upper throat much paler; the white line on auricular region replaced by a wider line of pale fulvous from bill to nape. Bill black; iris gray; legs dark scarlet; nails brown. Four specimens, two of each sex, measure: Wing, 119 to 124 (122); tail, 90 to 96.5 (94); culmen from base, 17 to 18 (17.5); tarsus, 16.5 to 18 (17.5).
“Very common in the forests of the central Philippines. Iris dark brown; legs and feet dark pink; nails leaden; bill black. Length, 229 to 250; wing, 119 to 127; tail, 84 to 96; culmen, 17 to 19; middle toe with claw, 26 to 29.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead); Mindanao (Murray, Everett, Koch & Schadenberg, Goodfellow, Clemens, Celestino); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester); Sulu (Guillemard).
“Similar to P. leucotis, from which it differs in having the forehead and throat grayish fulvous, the occiput constantly amethystine, and the rectrices with a decided amethystine tinge; it resembles also P. nigrorum, especially as regards the coloring of the forehead and throat, but it differs in having the subocular streak white and the occiput more amethystine. Length, about 240; wing, 124; tail, 99; bill, 13; tarsus, 19.” (Salvadori.)
“It seems to us that there must be something wrong about the Sulu record of P. brevirostris. We obtained no pigeons of the P. leucotis type in Sulu, and the single specimen obtained by us in Tawi Tawi has been lost or destroyed, so that we are unable to identify it, but it would be indeed remarkable if P. brevirostris should give way to P. occipitalis in Basilan only to reappear in Sulu. In the face of Count Salvadori’s identification of Guillemard’s specimen, however, we have nothing to say.
“Iris purple; legs and feet deep purple; nails brown. Five birds from Samar and Siquijor average: Length, 235; wing, 122; tail, 83; culmen, 19; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 26. A female from Mindanao is larger, measuring: Length, 250; wing, 127; tail, 94; culmen, 17; tarsus, 19; middle toe with claw, 28.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Li-mú-con, Bohol.
Bohol (Steere Exp., McGregor); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).
Adult male (type).—General color brown, much darker above, with iridescent reflections most pronounced on nape, mantle, and breast; merging rather abruptly into dark gray of crown; occiput, nape, and sides of head ruddy brown; from gape a narrow brown line passing below eye with a wider white line underneath, both lines reaching beyond ear-coverts; chin white, gradually changing to gray on throat and ochraceous on breast and abdomen; under tail-coverts and a wide band at end of tail pale french-gray; wings uniform with the back; primaries with a narrow light brown edge on outer webs; with the bird held toward the light the occiput and nape are glossed with green, followed by a patch of metallic blue, this followed on interscapulars by a wide band of metallic green extending to sides of neck and narrowly bordered behind by blue; the wings and remaining upper parts have a dull green gloss; with the bird held away from the light the green changes to purple and this metallic color shows also on throat, breast, and sides of neck. Length, 234; wing, 122; tail, 81; culmen from base, 16; tarsus, 17.
Female.—Similar to the male. In this species the terminal half of bill is black; basal half of bill, skin around eyes, and feet dull crimson; iris brown; nails gray.
Egg.—A hard-shelled egg was taken from a female killed on June 7, 1906; another egg, obtained in the same manner four days later, measures 27 by 21 and is pure white in color.
This species is most closely related to P. brevirostris but it differs in having a white forehead and brown subocular line.
Forest inhabiting pigeons of medium size; upper surface rich green; no band across lower back.
First primary with both webs greatly reduced in width near the tip; tail square; tarsus feathered for more than half its length. Forest inhabiting pigeons of medium size.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., McGregor); Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Leyte (Steere Exp.); Luzon (Meyer, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Goodfellow); Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Whitehead); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).—Forehead pale gray with a yellow wash, blending into light slate-gray mixed with green on center of crown; on back of head a wide band of dark purple or deep cherry-red, extending over ear-coverts and sides of face below the eyes; remainder of upper parts, including wings and tail, nearly uniform, rich green; rectrices and quills partly blue when held toward the light; whole upper parts slightly bronze away from the light; feathers of chin and upper throat white with a yellow wash on tips; lower throat and sides of neck and breast light gray; breast covered by a large oval patch of old-gold-yellow, just behind this a broad band of deep purple; middle of abdomen pearl-gray and white; sides and flanks green; under tail-coverts light buff, the inner webs largely green; rectrices gray below with light gray tips, above very narrowly edged with light ocherous; some of the primaries and secondaries narrowly edged with buff; tips of the green tarsal feathers reaching toes. A male from Sibuyan measures: Length, 340; wing, 160; tail, 115; culmen from base, 18; middle toe with claw, 35. A male from Basilan: Wing, 148; tail, 115; culmen from base, 18; middle toe with claw, 33. A female from Mindoro: Length, 320; wing, 153; tail, 113; culmen from base, 19; middle toe with claw, 34.
Young.—The immature bird differs from the adult in having top of head, neck, and sides of face uniform green (or with a few purple feathers) and the yellow and purple areas of breast indicated by a few scattered feathers of these colors. The first primary is attenuated but not so abruptly cut on inner web as it is in the adult. In a young female from Sibuyan the bill was dull red at base; tip brown; feet pink; nails black.
Luzon (Marche, Whitehead, Worcester).
“Adult male.—Entire top of head dull crimson-red, the same color being continued down the sides of the cheeks, on either side of the throat; feathers surrounding the eye light red; hind cheek and ear-coverts dusky black; back and sides of the neck and upper part of the breast pearl-gray, forming a collar which completely separates the dull crimson crown from the dusky black mantle and back; wings like the back, but with green reflections; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts bronze-brown with green reflections; primary quills black, finely edged with pale yellow; the two outer secondaries are similarly margined, the remainder edged with crimson along the middle of the outer web, the crimson barbs being loose and free and forming a large patch on the wing; tail bronze-brown, broadly edged with brownish gray, beneath dark gray tipped with whitish; chin and middle of throat brownish buff; in the center of the gray breast a large patch of bright orange-vermilion washed with lake, shading into deep red-lake below; this is followed by a patch of creamy white; rest of under parts dull pearly gray, most of the feathers finely edged with creamy yellow; under tail-coverts buff, with brownish gray centers. ‘Eye: inner ring yellow, outer lake-red; bill at base brick-red, tipped with yellow; feet deep coral-red.’ (Whitehead.) Length, 400; wing, 180; tail, 129; tarsus, 32.
“Adult female.—Similar to the male, but crown of a less crimson tinge; lower part of the back, rump, and tail bronze-green, distinctly greener than in the male; upper part of the breast-patch orange-red without the crimson wash. Length, 373; wing, 173; tail, 114; tarsus, 29.
“Young male.—The whole of the upper parts is brownish bronze shot with green; the dull crimson of the top of the head and the free crimson webs of the secondaries are just beginning to make their appearance; the whole of the feathers of the chest and upper breast are gray, widely tipped with bronze-green, the only patches of pure gray feathers being visible on each side of the neck. The orange-red breast-patch is represented by a deep orange feather in the middle of the chest and some dark carmine feathers. Otherwise the rest of the plumage is much like that of the adult.” (Grant.)
Marche’s fruit pigeon was described in 1880 from a single specimen which remained unique for fifteen years when Whitehead rediscovered the species in Lepanto. So far as we at present know, this species is confined to this subprovince and the neighboring subprovince of Bontoc. The Igorots say that at certain seasons of the year these birds become very fat and heavy and that they are then taken by pursuing them until they are exhausted. This account is probably correct as the specimens seen in the possession of the Igorots are not injured, while birds taken in snares or with bird-lime are seldom fit for specimens. This species may be recognized at once by the large red patch on the secondaries. In 1903 a pigeon, probably of this species, was killed in Bontoc by the Hon. Dean C. Worcester but the skin was lost.
Ca-pil′-la, Manila.
Bantayan (McGregor); Batan (McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Cagayancillo (McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Calayan (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Burger); Guimaras (Meyer); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Meyer, Steere Exp., Whitehead, McGregor); Mindoro (McGregor, Porter); Negros (Everett, Steere Exp.); Palawan (Everett, Platen, White); Panay (Meyer); Romblon (McGregor); Samar (Whitehead); Semirara (Worcester); Sibuyan (McGregor); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult male.—Chin black; head, neck, throat, and breast pearl-gray, washed with dull green on occiput and hind neck, washed with ocherous yellow on throat and crop; remainder of upper parts green, brightest on wings and tail, the latter tipped with dull yellowish brown; primaries edged with white near their tips; some of the secondaries edged with ocherous-yellow; behind the gray of breast a dark chestnut band, blackish on its anterior border; middle of abdomen white, washed with cinnamon or in some specimens with yellowish buff; under tail-coverts cinnamon; rectrices below, brown with gray tips; remainder of under parts dull green. Iris bright red; bill bright yellow; base of lower mandible, and feet dark crimson; nails dark brown. Length, 280 to 305; measurements of three specimens give: Wing, 144 to 145; tail, 104 to 105; culmen from base, 19 to 20; tarsus, 18 to 20.
Adult female.—Forehead blue-gray; chin black; throat and breast green; dark chestnut pectoral-band, and other parts, as in the male. A female from Sibuyan has the wing, 145, and tail, 104; a female from Calayan is larger; wing, 157; tail, 114.
Young.—Green, chin cinnamon; pectoral-band wanting or indicated by a few chestnut feathers; abdomen white or washed with buff; under tail-coverts slightly paler than in the adult.
Leclancher’s pigeon is generally found in forest and, although widely distributed, it does not occur in great numbers, except when feeding in fruit trees; it appears to be strictly arboreal in habits. Specimens from Camiguin, Calayan, and Batan are considerably larger than specimens from more southern islands. The nest as observed in Camiguin, north of Luzon, was a slight platform of twigs placed on a horizontal branch at from 1.5 to 4.5 meters from the ground. Four nests contained but one egg each. Three eggs are white in color and measure, respectively: 35 by 23, 35 by 25, and 31 by 24.
Lamprotreron is distinguished from all other Philippine genera by having the breast-feathers bifurcated, as if the tip of the shaft had been cut off of each feather.
Sulu (Guillemard). Celebes.
“Adult male.—General color above parrot-green, the inner wing-coverts, scapulars, and inner quills with an oval black spot near the ends; entire head above aster-purple; hind neck and sides of neck dragon’s-blood-red, shading off into the green of the mantle; sides of occiput and ear-coverts green, becoming gray on malar region, chin, throat, and jugulum; the upper breast rose-purple, the feathers on chest and jugulum forked at the tip (as if the middle part of the web had been cut out with scissors); passing on lower breast into a broad band of blackish plum-purple; on and near the carpal edge a large spot of this color; sides, thighs, and flanks green, thighs grayer, flanks tipped with naples-yellow; abdomen and under tail-coverts yellowish white, the inner webs of the latter partly green; center tail-feathers above green, grayish at tip, all the lateral tail-feathers blackish, tipped with gray, washed with green; tail below dusky grayish, terminal bar whitish; quills above black, washed externally with green, finely edged with yellowish; wings below slaty, the first primary much attenuated for about 2 cm. and incurved.
“Adult female.—Above all parrot-green, except for a patch of aster-purple on crown and occiput, and purplish black spots on the scapulars and inner-coverts; breast green, without rose-purple and the dark plum-purple band of the male.
“Immature male.—Closely resembling the female; forehead green with the purple feathers of the crown intermingled; dark purple breast-band commencing to form; breast grayer than in the female.
“Young in first plumage.—Bright parrot-green, the wing-coverts and secondaries broadly margined with light yellow, the back, rump, and scapulars, and breast more finely margined with yellow; remaining under parts much as in the female; tail tipped with yellowish white; no purple on head or elsewhere.
“Wing, 128 to 140; tail, 95; tarsus, 22; culmen from cranium suture, 17 to 19.” (Meyer and Wiglesworth.)
Male.—“Iris sea-green; bill green, reddish at base; tarsus greenish olive. Length, 295; wing, 144.” (Salvadori.)
First primary slightly attenuated on its distal third; tail square; tarsus feathered nearly to the toes.
Basilan (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Bongao (Everett); Cagayan Sulu (Mearns); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp.); Palawan (Lempriere, Whitehead); Sibutu (Everett); Sulu (Burbidge, Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Banguey.
Adult male.—Bright leaf-green, mantle slightly yellowish; head, neck, and throat pearly gray; chin and upper throat yellow; a large patch on occiput and hind neck black; lower abdomen and short tail-coverts bright yellow; longer tail-coverts bright carmine, narrowly tipped with yellow; secondaries and greater coverts very narrowly edged with yellow. Eyelids, iris, and bill greenish yellow; feet rose-pink; nails brown. Length, 240. Two males from Basilan, wing, 123, 116; tail, 85; exposed culmen, 16, 15; middle toe with claw, 26.
Adult female.—Entirely green, except the under tail-coverts which are green, washed with carmine, and narrowly tipped with yellow. Two females from Basilan measure: Wing, 121, 118; tail, 79, 80; exposed culmen, 16, 14; middle toe with claw, 26, 25.
Young.—Similar to the adult female but with little or no carmine on under tail-coverts.
“This, the most northern form of the Spilotreron group, is very nearly related to the most southern one, from which it is not easily distinguished. The slight purple tinge of the black occipital spot, on which Dr. Meyer relies to separate the Basilan bird, appears only in certain individuals, but is absent in the majority of specimens. As to the collar of the bird from Banguey, which is described as whitish gray, I do not find that it is different from that of the specimens from other localities.” (Salvadori.)
“The blue spot on the nape on which Meyer relies to separate the Basilan birds is a minus quantity in our five specimens from that island, though they are in breeding plumage. This species is quite common in Sulu and Tawi Tawi, and is sometimes found feeding in isolated trees in open fields.
“Iris yellow; legs dark pink; feet same color; nails nearly black; bill and eye-wattle light greenish yellow. Length, 230; wing, 121; tail, 81; culmen, 33; middle toe with claw, 29.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)