The mysterious Carpophaga vandepolli Büttikofer

In 1896 Büttikofer (Notes from the Leyden Museum, vol. 18) published upon a collection of birds from Nias, collected there by Kannegieter. In this paper he described a new species, Carpophaga vandepolli (p. 190). This bird is closely allied to Carpophaga consobrina (now called Ducula aenea consobrina Salvad.), but is different "by a large pinkish brown patch on the occiput and the conspicuously wine-red color of the breast". In D. a. consobrina these parts are a splendid grey colour, sometimes more or less washed with a vinaceous tinge. In discussing this new species Büttikofer said: "It is not without hesitation that I describe this bird as new, the idea being rather perplexing that two so closely allied species should inhabit so small an island as Nias". This bird has always been a mystery to the ornithologists, for it is so nearly related to D. a. consobrina and, moreover, it has never been found again. Examining the skin of the type specimen of C. vandepolli I found uncontestable arguments that Büttikofer's bird must be D. a. consobrina. The shape of the nostrils, the feathering of the tarsus, the dark-maroon colour of the undertailcoverts, the dark bronze-maroon tone on the upperparts, all indicate that it belongs to D. aenea and is not a geographical race of Ducula rosacea. Then, probably by a printer's error, the wingmeasurement given by Büttikofer is deceiving, instead of 223, I found 236, a measurement agreeing very well with those of other females of D. a. consobrina, which are ranging from 228 to 241. Tail 132, culmen 21, tarsus 33. The only difference with consobrina that I could point out, is the darker grey of the nape, sides of head and throat and the dark rosy tinge on lower