(28) COLUMBA LEUCONOTA Vigors. 



THE SNOW-PIGEON. 



(Plate 14.) 



Columba leuconota Vigors, P.Z.S. 1831, p. 23 ; Gould, Cen. Him. B., pi. 59 ; 

 Blyth, J.A.S.B., XIV p. 864; id., Cat. B.M.A.S.B., p. 234; Jerdon, 

 B.i., Ill p. 471 ; Stoliczka, J.A.S.B., XXXVII pt. 2, p. 66 ; Bianf., 

 ib., XLI pt. 2 p. 70 ; Hume and Hen., Lah. to Yark., p. 274 ; Brookes, 

 Str. Peath., Ill p. 256 ; Hume, ib., VIII pp. 110 and 340 : id.. Cat. no. 

 790 ; Salvadori, Cat. B.M., XXI p. 249: Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV p. 32 ; 

 Sharpe, Hand-List, I p. 68 ; Finn., J.B.N.H.S., XIV p. 577 ; Fulton, 

 ib., XVI p. 60 ; Ward, ib., XVII p. 943 ; Perreau, ib., XIX p. 919 : 

 Bailey, ib., XXI p. 182 ; Magrath, ib., p. 1312. 



Vernacular Names. Bujul, Chamba ; Lho-peu-rintiep, Lepcha, 

 Bya-den, Bhot. 



Description. — Adult male. Wliole bead and neck very dark slaty- 

 grey, darkest on the nape and practically black «here it adjoins a white 

 nuchal collar. In turn this white collar gradually changes into a light brown 

 on the upper-back, scapulars, and the innermost lesser ^\-ing-coverts and 

 secondaries. Lower-back white ; rump and upper tail-coverts black ; tail 

 slaty-black at base, follo^A-ed by a broad ^•hite band across the middle, and 

 broadly tipped black, thLs black band narrower on the outermost tail-feathers. 

 Wings grey, with three visible broad bands of bro\\'n running across the 

 median and greater coverts and the secondaries ; a fourth band, concealed 

 by the tips of the overlying feathers, on the bases of the innermost median 

 coverts. Primaries grey, browner at the tips, and \nth a very narrow edge 

 of silver-grey on the outer webs when these featliers are fresh and in perfect 

 condition ; outer secondaries grey at the base and bro'mi on tlieir terminal 

 halves ; all quill-shafts dark brown. 



Below, breast pure white, clianging to pale dove-grey on the posterior 

 flanks and abdomen ; under-tail-coverts very pale dove-grey ; under aspect 

 of the wing tlie same, with the edges of the shoulders a darker grey. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill black ; irides golden-yello\^- : legs and feet 

 bright scarlet-red, the soles paler, and the claws black ; " mouth bright 

 fleshy -red " (Hume). 



Measurements. Length 12.5 in. to 13.5 in. ( = 317.5 to 342.7 mm.) ; 

 wing 8.5 in. to 9.6 in. ( = 215.9 to 243.8 mm.) ; tail about 5 in. (127 mm) ; 

 tarsus 1.2 in. ( = 30.4 mm.) ; bill from gape about 1 in. ( = 25.4 mm.) and 

 at front about .65 in. (16.5 mm.). 



" Weight 10 oz." (Hume). 



Adult female. I cannot see that there is any constant difference between 

 the sexes, but Salvadori says that the grey colour of the back and %^'ing3 

 in the female is somewhat duller. 



Colours of soft parts. As in the male. 



Measurements. With tlie exception that the female is a more slender 

 built and lighter bird, the measurements are the same as in the male. 



