Calcutta, with Notes by H.E. Strickland. 117 



as the group to which it belongs appears to be monticolous. The 

 Sph. oxyurus, in addition to Sph. sphenurus, inhabits Bengal and 

 Assam. 



Respecting the Columba risoria group, I consider that I have three 

 distinct species before me : — 1 . that so commonly kept in cages, both 

 here and in Europe, and which I presume is the North African species, 

 of a pale isabelline colour ; 2. the South African Turtur vinaceus ; and 

 3. that common throughout India, with bluish-gray wings and tail, 

 and altogether more resembling no. 2, but having the general hue 

 paler, the under-parts much paler, and no dusky tinge upon the rump ; 

 its note or coo also differing from that of no. 1. I am not acquainted 

 with the two varieties of size mentioned by Major Franklin, but the 

 Bengal species measures 12 j to 13 inches long, by 19§ to 20 in. in 

 alar extent ; wing from bend 6§ to 6£ in., and middle tail-feathers 

 5^ to 5| in.* 



No. 161. I am not satisfied that Mr. Strickland is correct in re- 

 garding the wild pigeons which I mentioned as being brought some- 

 what abundantly to the London markets as the young of C. livia. 

 The bird I alluded to is well known to Mr. Bartlett, who could pro- 

 cure any number of specimens ; and it is remarkable that individuals 

 with barred wings appear never to occur among them. It is not im- 

 probably the blue rockier pigeon noticed by Gilbert White. 



No. 163. This is the Perdix gular is of Temminck, and Chickore 

 of Bengal sportsmen, so termed from its call, which much resembles 

 that of the red-legged P. chukar of the Himalaya. It abounds in all 

 the heavy jungles eastward of the Ganges, extending northward to 

 the Malda range of hills, if not beyond. 



The Francolinus or Perdix lunulatus of Valenciennes is evidently 

 identical with the Curria partridge of Hardwicke, termed F. Hard- 

 wickii by Gray, and recently F. nivosus in the ' Mag. de Zoologie.' 

 It comes chiefly from the country westward of Agra, and Mr. Jerdon 

 has also recently obtained it in the south ; but an experienced sports- 

 man assures me that he doubts exceedingly the existence of this bird 

 in Bengal, though I observe that a double- spurred partridge is men- 

 tioned to occur in the Monghyr district, which I must inquire about. 



No. 166. Coturnix coromandelica is, I am told, very abundant du- 

 ring the rains, at which season it breeds. 



No. 168. This I now consider must have been the young of Co- 

 turnix chinensis. 



Nos. 169 and 170. Mr. Jerdon has now ascertained, for certain, 

 that the Hemipodius taigoor of Sykes is the male of his H. pugnax, 

 the latter only having the black stripe down the throat and breast, 

 besides being larger. This corresponds with what I have also ob- 

 served of its Bengal representative, which appears always to be some- 

 what smaller than that of Southern India, and decidedly less rufous : 



* The pale turtle-dove kept in cages is a domestic variety unknown in 

 a wild state. The North African bird is the same as the Indian ; it is the 

 true Turtur risorius, Linn, (sp.), and differs from T. vinaceus of S. Africa 

 in having the lower wing-covers light and the lower tail-covers dark, while 

 in T. vinaceus they are the reverse. — H. E. S. 



