(i7) CARPOPHAGA AENEA INSULARIS (Blyth). 



THE NICOBAR IMPERIAL PIGEON. 



Carpophaga sylvatica (var.) Blyth, J.A.S.B., XV p. 371 ; id., Cat. B.M.A.S.B., 

 p. 231. 



Carpophaga imularis Blyth, J.A.S.B., XXVIl p. 270 (1858) ; Ball, ib., 

 XXXIX pt. 2 p. 32 ; id., Str. Feath., I p. 79 ; Hume, ib., II p. 262 ; 

 id. ib., IV p. 291 ; id.. Nests and Eggs, 496 ; id.. Cat. no. 780, bis ; id., Str. 

 Feath., VIII p. 109 ; Legge, B. Cey., p. 719 ; Gates, in Hume's Nests 

 and Eggs, 2nd ed., II p. 367 ; Salvador], Cat. B.M., XXI p. 185 ; Blanf., 

 Avi. Brit. I., IV p. 20 ; Sharpe, Hand-List, 1 p. 64 ; Gates, Cat. Eggs 

 B.M., I p. 85 ; Butler, J.B.N.H.S., XII p. 687. 



Vernacular Names. None recorded. 



Description. — Adult male. Differs principally from aenea aenea in 

 having the under tail-coverts a dull reddish-brown, in no case approaching 

 the liver-brown of that bird. The grey of the head and under-parts is purer, 

 very seldom having the slightest tinge of pink or vinous, and the fore-head 

 is generally distinctly paler than the rest of the head. The green of the upper- 

 parts is darker and more mixed \Wth blue, and appears never to have any 

 copper reflections upon it ; the upper-surface of the tail is also darker and more 

 blue, and the under-surface is a much darker brown. 



Colours of soft parts. " Legs and feet dull deep pink, pinkish red or livid 

 purple, the bill is pale plumbeous, paler on tip and darker on cere and base ; 

 the irides vary a good deal, sometimes they are pale ruby red ; the eyelids 

 are pale lavender " (Hume). 



Measurements. Length 17 to 20 in. ( = 431 to 508 mm.) ; wing 8.75 to 

 10.25 in. ( = 222.3 to 260 mm.) ; taU about 6 to 7 in. ( = 152 to 177 mm.) ; 

 bill at front 1 to 1.25 in. ( = 25.4 to 31.7 mm.), and from gape about 1.45 

 to 1.8 in. ( = 36.8 to 45.4 mm.) ; tarsus about 1 ( = 25.4 mm.) to 1.2 in. 

 ( = 30.4 mm.) or rather more. 



" Weight 1 lb. to 1 lb. 12 oz." (Hume). 



" Weight IJ lbs." (Richmond). 



Adult female. Does not differ from the male in coloration, size, or in the 

 colour of the soft parts. 



Nestling, in first plumage. Like the adult, with dull brown irides and 

 paler, duller feet and legs. 



Distribution. Nicobar Islands. 



Nidification. As regards its nidification Davison, in Stray Feathers, 

 says that : " They breed in February and March ; on the 17th February I 

 found a nest on the Island of Trinkut ; it was built on a cocoanut palm, and 

 was about 20 feet from the groimd. As usual ^^ith pigeons and doves it was 



