\l<:sn\« I.\ WESTEHS 1M>IA. 331. 



:«a~THE LITTLE BROWN DOVE. 



'Fa /■/<>:/■ 8etoegdtens$&, Lin. 



The Brown Dove is common throughout Western India, with the 

 "exception of Ratnagiri and Kanara,* where it appears to be a very 

 rare straggler. They are permanent residents, breeding all through 

 the year, I find from my notes that there is not a single month in 

 which I have not taken eggs, in one district or the other. March 

 and September are months in w T blich most eggs are to be found. 



The nest is usually placed in a bush or small acacia tree, in a 

 cactus hedge, young date palm, and occasionally on the top of a pillar 

 in a verandah ; it is a small platform of twigs and diy grass stems, 

 and the eggs, two in number, are rather broad ovals in shape, mea- 

 suring an inch in length by 0*86 in breadth ; they are of a pure 

 white colour. 



If the eggs are taken, they will lay a second, or even a third time 

 in the same nest. Tf unmolested they often rear a second brood in 

 the same nest. 



?95.— THE SPOTTED DOVE. 



Tiwtur suratensis, Gm. 



This is the common dove of Ratnagiri and Kanara, being equally 

 abundant both above and below the ghats, where it appears to replace 

 the Little Brown Dove. In Sind it is rare, only occurring as a strag- 

 gler, in the upper portion of the province. In all other parts of the 

 Presidency it is more or less common in suitable places, but it is 

 however somewhat locally distributed. It avoids dry sandy plains 

 and places where the rainfall is scanty. 



They breed at almost all seasons, but the best month to search for 

 eggs are August and September. The nest is a scant}- platform of 

 small twigs and dry grass stems, placed on a cactus or other low bush ; 

 I have never found a nest at any great height from the ground. 

 The bird is a very close sitter, even before an egg is laid. 



The eggs, two in number, are pure glossy white ; in shape they 

 are broadish ovals, but vary greatly in size, but the overage of a large 

 series was 1*1 inches in length by 0*82 in breadth. 



* Davidson has never seen a specimen in Kanara, either above or below the ghSta. 

 44 



