108 Mr. E. BlytVs Drafts for a Fauna Indica. 



Pigeon.) Above dark vinaceous-ruddy, with white specks on 

 the medial coverts of the wing ; head and upper part of front of 

 neck cinereous, with a vinous tinge in some specimens ; rump, 

 upper and lower tail-coverts dusky-ash ; tail ashy-black ; the great 

 alars brownish- dusky, the first three primaries having a slight 

 whitish outer margin in some specimens ; exterior wing-coverts 

 grayish; nape, sides of neck and lower parts vinaceous-ruddy 

 at base of feathers, margined (more broadly on the side of each 

 feather of the breast) with vinous-gray, which increases in quan- 

 tity upwards, till the surface of the plumage appears solely of this 

 hue, while the dark vinous tint predominates more and more to- 

 wards the belly ; the red portion of each feather appears thus as 

 an obtusely pointed spot upon those of the breast, and on the 

 feathers of the neck is darker and acutely pointed, being there 

 uniformly edged with the pale ashy margin. Bare orbital space 

 livid ; bill purplish-black ; " irides hoary or gray-white ; legs and 

 feet black-green to the front, yellowish elsewhere ; claws clear 

 lively yellow." Length about 15 inches by 25 or 26 inches in 

 alar expanse ; wing 9 inches to 9^. " Female," according to 

 Mr. Hodgson, " rather less, and differing in having the bluish- 

 gray of the head less pale and clear, and in wanting almost en- 

 tirely the purplish tinge which adds so much beauty to certain 

 parts of the plumage of the male, as especially the upper part of 

 his back and the lower part of his belly." 



^^ This elegant species," continues Mr. Hodgson, '' is found in 

 the woods of the valley of Nepal. It is very shy, seldom or never 

 entering the cultivated fields for the purpose of feeding, but 

 keeping almost always to the woods, and living upon their pro- 

 duce, in the shape of grass, seeds or berries." It would seem to 

 be not uncommon near Darjeeling : and Captain Wroughton in- 

 forms me, that it is also tolerably numerous about Simla and 

 Mussooree, where it frequents the pine forests on the higher 

 mountains, as Whartoo and the vicinity of Kotghur. They are 

 generally seen in flocks of six or seven, which are particularly shy 

 and difficult of approach. 



C. Hodgsonii is nearly allied to C. arquatrix of Southern 

 Africa ; but is at once distinguished from that bird by its black- 

 ish bill, by the gray upon its head and neck, and by the reduced 

 development of the nude space surrounding the orbits. Another 

 allied African species is the C. guinea, Linn. (v. trigonigei'a of 

 Wagler) . 



[To be continued.] 



