482 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



more pronounced externally ; beneath very pale vinaceous, whitish 

 on the throat, passing to light greyish towards the vent, and the 

 lower tail-coverfs pure ashy ; wings underneath greyish-white. 



Bill black ; irides crimson ; orbitar skin whitish ; feet dark pink- 

 red. Length 12^ to 13 inches ; extent 20 ; wing 6^ ; tail 5. 



The Eing-dove is generally diffused throughout India, frequenting 

 hedges and trees in the neighbourhood of cultivation, and also low 

 bush or reed jungle. It is found in Ceylon, but is rare ini\Ialabar, 

 and generally in forest country, and it appears not to occur in 

 Arrakan, nor in the countries to the East of the Bay of Bengal. 

 Layard notices its partiality for Euphorbia bushes, in which, he says, 

 it generally builds its nest. Blyth states that it ' inclines to be 

 more gregarious than our other Doves ;' but less so, I think, than 

 T. meena. Like the other Doves, it breeds in the plains at all 

 seasons, but also, it appears, ascends^ the Hills near IMussoorce, 

 to breed there in spring. " The coo," says Blyth, " is quite different 

 from that of the domestic Turtle-dove, and may be expressed by 

 hookoo-koo, koohoo-hooy 



Several other species allied to risoria are found in Africa ; and 

 one or two in the Malayan province, viz., C. bitorquata, Temm. 

 and C. dussumierii, Temra., both from Java and the neighbour- 

 ing isles. They are all very closely allied races. 



The next species differs somewhat in type by its shorter tail, and 

 the sexes differing in plumage. 



797. Turtur humilis, Temminck. 



Columba, apud Temminck, Pi, col 258 and 259— Sykes, Cat. 

 141— Jerdon, Cat. 295 — Blyth, Cat. 1432— T. risoria, var. 

 apud Franklin — Seroti fachta, H. — Golahi ghughu, Tuma khuri, 

 and Itkidi/a ghughU) Beng., i. e. rose-colored, or copper-colored, 

 or brick-colored Dove — liah-giuca, Tel., i. e. Tile-colored Dove — 

 sometimes Feri-arijnt guiva, Tel. 



The Eed Turtle-dove. 



Descr. — Male, head ash-grey, paler towards the forehead ; a 

 black half collar, Avell set off by Avhitish above ; general color 

 above fine vinous or brick red ; the rump and upper tail-coverts 



