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



theless, the species is probably identical*. It is nearly allied to 

 T. auritus, Ray {Col. turtur, Linn.), of Europe, which it resembles 

 in its manners and in its coo, but is distinguished by its superior 

 size ; " orange irides instead of yellow ; by the whole head (in 

 some), neck, shoulders, breast and belly being richer vinaceous ; 

 in the back and rump being ash, and vent and lower tail-coverts 

 light cinereous,'^ &c. The specimens of T. auritus from India 

 and China, mentioned by Latham, may accordingly be presumed 

 to have been of the present species. Another nearly-allied dove 

 would seem to exist in la Tourterelle cendree de risle de Luqon 

 of Sonnerat, upon which are founded Col. cinerea^ Scopoli, and 

 C. turtur^ var. C, of Latham. Living specimens of the present 

 species, and of the gray, red and speckled turtle-doves, also of 

 the ground dove and of Treron phoenicoptera and TV. bicincta, 

 are almost always to be seen for sale at the shops of the Calcutta 

 bird- dealers. 



Memorandum. — The only known Indian Pigeons now wanting 

 to the Museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta, are Columba El- 

 phmstonii and Himalayan specimens of C. palumbus ; also females 

 of Treron cantillans and of Carpophaga insiffnis; and good spe- 

 cimens of Col. leuconota are acceptable, as also of C. pulchricollis. 

 Of species that require verification, there remain the Treron 

 pompadora of Ceylon, and Psammmias Burnesii of the Western 

 Deserts (?). Also Col. malaharica, Lath. [Colombe brame of 

 Temminck), founded on la Tourterelle de la cote de Malabar of 

 Sonnerat. Size of Turtur risorius ; head, back and wing pale 

 ash-gray ; the neck and breast weak vinous-gray ; belly white ; 

 some oval black spots on the greater wing-coverts ; tail marked 

 with white as in the other Turtle-doves j bill, irides and feet red. 

 Whether the Indian Carpophagm ever lay more than a single egg 

 in each nest is also a subject for investigation. — E. B. 



April 4, 1846. 



* This Javanese bird is certainly T. orientaVm (Lath.) andgelastis (Temm.), 

 the former of which names holds precedence for the species. 



The Indian bird may sofely stand as Turtur orientalis. To its synonyms 

 may be added that of Cohnnba f err ago, Eversmann, ' Addenda ad Pallasii 

 Zoographiam Rosso-Asiaticam,' Casan, part iii. 1842, p. 17, from which it 

 appears that this epecies extends northwards as far as Songaria. — H. E. S. 



