252 Sir E.. H. Scliomburgk on the Birds of Siam. 



Their tails, however, although somewhat raised when wooing or 

 quarrelling, never form the perfect fan of the true kind, 



14. TURTUR SURATENSIS, (Nock kow.) 



Besides the preceding, we have around Bangkok, and almost 

 everywhere, as far as I have explored Siam, that nice Turtle-dove, 

 the T.suratensis. It is such a favourite and so easily domesticated, 

 that it is found in cages in many of the houses of the natives and 

 foreigners. It commences its cooing before daybreak, whether 

 in its own haunts or kept in a cage. At noon its cooing is heard 

 again, when free in the forest, and lasts for about an hour ; but 

 when caged, I have seldom heard its sound at that hour. While 

 an invalid at Aughin*, on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Siam, 

 sent there to recover from an attack of dysentery, and still too 

 weak to cross the threshold, I resided in a house near the 

 Granite-ledge with its Kettle- holes, from which the place has re- 

 ceived its name. Here there was a fine copse of wood, a favou- 

 rite resort of the Nock kow at the morning's dawn and at noon. 

 Their half-melancholy sound when cooing to each other had 

 not a disagreeable, nay, rather a soothing effect upon me. 

 I listened with pleasure, and missed them sadly when daring 

 rainy days (of which there were just then many) the sound 

 was not to be heard. When accustomed to the cage, as I have 

 already observed, this Dove will announce the break of day ; 

 but I have not heard it at noon. 



15. CORVUS CULMINATUS. (Kah.) 



The Crow is too conspicuous a bird not to attract the at- 

 tention of any person who comes for the first time to Bangkok. 

 Long before daybreak their cry commences. Kah, kah resounds 

 from all directions ; and if a pair have weighty subjects to dis- 

 cuss, their cry becomes deafening, and others hurry to the spot 

 to assist in the argument, until sometimes twenty or thirty are 

 assembled, every one having a word to add. If there is a shot 

 sent amongst them, and one falls, the uproar is immense : they 

 fly round their fallen comrade from all parts ; others hurry to 

 the spot, assisting in the clamour. They are very daring and 

 impudent. When the fowls were fed, they came to partake of 



* The King of Siam calls Augliin the " sanatorium " for Europeans. 



