Himalayan and Kashmiri Birds 



being the longest. The tip of the tail is white, 

 with a dark broad band above the white. 



Next to the Kite the Kestrel is the com- 

 monest bird of prey at the various hill stations* 



Green Pigeons 



Green pigeons are strictly arboreal in their 

 habits, and their plumage assimilates so well 

 with the foliage that it is difficult to see them. 



157. Sphenocercus sphenurus : The Kokla 

 Green Pigeon. F. 1283, J. 778, +III. E. 

 W. K. 



Head and lower plumage yellowish-green. 

 Upper back grey. Middle back maroon (in 

 cock only). Rest of plumage olive green. 

 Some black and yellow in wing. Under 

 surface of wings and tail grey. Upper breast 

 is tinted with pink. 



The call of this pigeon is very curious. I do 

 not find it very agreeable ; but Indians cage 

 it for the sake of its " song." The name Kokla 

 is onamatopoetic, but does not in my opinion 

 represent the call. " The notes," writes 

 Blyth, " bear some resemblance to the human 

 voice in singing and are highly musical in 

 tone, being considerably prolonged and modu- 

 lated, but always terminating abruptly, and 

 182 



