niAriNiE. 485 



dusky bars alternating with two greyish white ones on the lower 

 back and rump, the feathers, with the basal and middle portion 

 of the shaft, very broad and flattened ; tail dusky, the two outer 

 feathers on each side whitish-grey, with a black sub-terminal band ; 

 primaries dusky, and a wliite bar at the shoulder of the wing ; 

 beneath, the whole neck, breast, and lower parts, vinaceous 

 red-brown, paler on the lower abdomen ; the lower tail-coverts 

 ashy, the longest being blackish ; wing beneath dark reddish brown. 

 Bill bright coral red, dusky at the base ; orbits livid fleshy ; 

 iridcs dark brown ; feet dull purple red. Length lOi inches ; 

 extent 17^ ; wing 5^; tail of. 



Tlic female has the forehead greyish white, and the superci- 

 lium narrower, the licad rufescent, the lower parts browner, and 

 the undo I' tail-coverts more or less ferruginous ; she also wants 

 the white shoulder-spot. The young are more dusky above, with 

 little green, and barred below, recalling, says Blyth, the coloring 

 of Macropygia. 



This beautiful Ground-dove is found throughout India, in forest 

 countries, occasionally in well- wooded districts, as in Lower 

 Bengal, extending to Assam and all the countries on the East of 

 the Bay of Bengal, as far as, at all events, Tenasserira. It is 

 very partial to bamboo jungle, and occurs from the level of the sea up 

 to 3,000 feet, or perhaps higher. It feeds mostly on the ground, 

 often on roads in forests, and bare spots under trees, walking 

 along with a rapid motion, and allowing a moderately near ap- 

 proach. Its flight is very rapid. It is generally seen alone. Its 

 voice is alow plaintive moan, or ' lowing coo,' as Layard calls it. Its 

 eggs are said by Layard to be pale yellowish drab color, but Blyth 

 says that they are merely of a less pure white than those of 

 ordinary Pigeons or Doves. It soon becomes reconciled to confine- 

 ment, and caged birds are usually for sale in Calcutta. 



The Javanese species, C. javanicus, Gmelin, is stated to 

 differ slightly, and extends over the greater part of the Malayan 

 Archipelago as far as the Philippines. Blyth, however, considers 

 it doubtfully distinct from the Indian bird. Bonaparte has 

 C. aitgusta, from the Nicobars, also doubtfully distinct. Other 

 species are C chrt/sochlora, and C. longirostris, from Australia; and 



