The spotted green pigeon is a species of pigeon that is most likely
extinct. It was first mentioned and described in 1783 by John Latham,
who claimed to have seen two specimens and a drawing depicting the bird.
Today, the species is only known from a specimen kept in World Museum,
Liverpool. Overlooked for much of the 20th century, it was only
recognised as a valid extinct species by the IUCN Red List in 2008. In
2014 a genetic study confirmed it as a distinct species related to the
Nicobar pigeon, and showed that the two were the closest relatives of
the extinct dodo and Rodrigues solitaire. The remaining specimen is
32 cm (12.5 in) long, and has very dark, brownish plumage with a green
gloss. The neck-feathers are elongated, and most of the feathers on the
upperparts and wings have a yellowish spot on their tips. It has a black
bill with a yellow tip, and the end of the tail has a pale band. It has
relatively short legs and long wings. It may have been native to an
island somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean, and it
has been suggested that a bird referred to in 1928 as titi by Tahitian
islanders was this bird.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_green_pigeon>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1422:
The Treaty of Melno was signed, establishing the
Prussian–Lithuanian border, which afterwards remained unchanged for
about 500 years.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Melno>
1875:
The Ellen Southard wrecked in a storm at Liverpool, England;
the United States Congress subsequently awarded 27 gold Lifesaving
Medals to the lifeboat men who rescued her crew.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Southard>
1949:
Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference unanimously selected Zeng Liansong's design for the flag of
China (pictured).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_China>
1975:
Two members of ETA political-military and three of the
Revolutionary Antifascist Patriotic Front became the last people to be
executed in Spain, having been sentenced to death for murders of
policemen and civil guards.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_use_of_capital_punishment_in_Spain>
2007:
NASA launched the Dawn probe, its first purely exploratory
mission to use ion propulsion, from Cape Canaveral.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
Elysian:
1. Of or pertaining to Elysian or Elysium, the location.
2. (idiomatic) Blissful, happy, heavenly.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Elysian>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
If ever the Time should come, when vain & aspiring Men shall
possess the highest Seats in Government, our Country will stand in Need
of its experienced Patriots to prevent its Ruin.
--Samuel Adams
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samuel_Adams>