THE DIET OF THE HENDERSON FRUIT DOVE PTILINOPUS-INSULARIS .1. FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF FRUIT CHOICE

Over 13 months we studied the diet of the fruit dove Ptilinopus insula ris, endemic to the exceptionally remote South Pacific island of Hende rson. Nineteen plant species were recorded in the diet by faecal analy sis and direct observation. The fruit of Procris pedunculata (Urticace ae) was the most common food. When it was unavailable, the doves turne d to the young shoots of the fern Phymatosornus scolopendria. Subject to a maximum diameter of about 18 mm, the doves ate nearly all types o f available fruit. By combining the diet studies with studies of plant phenology we were able to assess which, of the fruits available, were preferred. The doves preferred the larger fruit. Given that the fruit dove today eats nearly all available fruit species, we ponder on how it co-existed with at least two other pigeon species that formerly liv ed on Henderson Island. (C) 1995 The Linnean Society of London