454 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



maronne. Mr. Blyth, described a caged specimen with these tints 

 as V. cantillans. 



The Kokhila is greatly prized as a cage-bird by the natives, 

 and is occasionally brought for sale to Calcutta, and sells at a high 

 price. 



779. Sphenocercus apicaudus, Hodgson. 



Treron, apud Hodgson — Blyth, Cat. 1392 — Sampoon-pho^ 

 Lpch. 



The Pin-tailed Green Pigeon. 



Descr. — Green, tinged with yellowish on the upper tail-coverts 

 and on the lower parts, and the male, with the crown of the head 

 and breast tinged "with russet, as in the last species ; primaries 

 slaty black, two narrow yellow bars X)n the wing ; tail, with the 

 medial pair of feathers, yellow green at their base ; grey at their 

 tips, the others grey, with a medial blackish band ; the central 

 feathers much lengthened beyond the rest, and the elongated 

 portion extremely narrow. 



Bill glaucous blue, cere blue ; legs coral-red ; Irides dark yellow. 

 Length about 16 inches ; extent 21 ; wing 6^; tail centre pair 8, 

 next 5. 



This elegant Green Pigeon has hitherto only been found 

 in the South-east Himalayas, in Nepal and Sikim, extending, 

 however, to the hill ranges of Assam. It is not so common near 

 Darjeeling as the last species, and frequents a lower zone, being 

 found in the warmer valleys. Its note is very similar to that of 

 the last species, but less loud, musical, and prolonged. 



A nearly allied species occurs in Malayana, 5. oxyurus ; and S. 

 Korthahi, Miill., from the Malayan Archipelago, is very like the 

 Himalayan bird. One species, S. Sieboldi, inhabits Japan. 



Sub-fam. CARPOPHAGiNiE, Fruit Pigeons. 



Bill lengthened and slender, tolerably depressed at the base, 

 with the terminal third or less of the upper mandible corneous ; 

 wings long ; tall even, or slightly rounded, longer than in the 

 TreroniiKB ; feet strong, with broad soles ; tarsus well feathered. * 



