456 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Bill slaty, red at the base above, and bluish white at the tip ; 

 irides and the nude orbits crimson ; legs lake red, pale on the 

 soles. Length 18 to 19 inches ; extent 30 ; wing 8 to 9 ; tail 6. 



It will be seen from the synonyms I have adopted that I do 

 not consider Blyth's small race C. pusilla, from the South of India, 

 distinct from the bird of Central India. Some specimens from 

 the South are perhaps smaller than others from Northern and 

 North-eastern India ; and examples from the East Coast are 

 somewhat smaller than those from the West Coast; but the supposed 

 new species was founded on a peculiarly small specimen. Should 

 I be correct, this fine Pigeon inhabits the whole of India, from 

 Ceylon to Assam and Sylhet, not however, apparently, occurring 

 in the Himalayas, nor in the North-western Provinces. It also 

 is found in Burmali, and even extends through the Malayan 

 Peninsula to Java and Sumatra, according to Blyth. It is only 

 found in forest countries, and is very abundant in the Malabar 

 forests, in Central India, Midnapore, and the wooded countries 

 to the North-east generally. 



According to my observations, it is not at all a mountain species, 

 keeping to forests at low elevations, and I cannot recall ever 

 havino- seen it as high even as 2,000 feet ; certainly it is more 

 abundant at elevations from the level of the sea to 1 ,000 feet ; 

 and Mr. Blyth was mistaken when he stated that the specimen 

 sent him by myself, from which he made his imsilla, was from the 

 Neilgherries ; indeed I have not even seen this Pigeon in the 

 Wynaad. Layard, on the contrary, describes it as " extending into 

 the low country in Ceylon, but their great haunt is certainly the 

 mountain zone, though, from Dr. Kelaart's observations, it does not 

 appear to have been seen in very high lands." It associates 

 usually in small parties, now and then imiting into flocks of twenty 

 or more. It wanders about from place to place, looking for trees 

 in fruit ; and, in the hot weather, visits the salt swamps on the 

 Malabar Coast, in numbers, along with the next species, to feed 

 on the buds of Aricmnia, and other trees of similar habit. 1 found 

 it breedino- in the forests of Central India in April and May, but 

 was unable to get at any of the nests which I saw ; however, 1 

 was assured by a Shikaree that he found two eggs in one nest he 



