SPOTTED DOVE 207 



Turumpti {Falco chiquera), by the Fish-Eagles (Poliaetus ichthyaelus and 

 humilis), and also in a bush under a tree in which a family of young Black- 

 winged Kites (Elanus coeruleus) were being brought up. 



Wliatever this law may be, however, it is not obeyed by the Crow, who 

 is a law unto liimself, or tlie Magpie (Dendrocitta) — an outcast amongst birds 

 and a destroyer of all life feebler than himself, and one of the worst egg- 

 thieves in India. 



The eggs are, of course, only two in number although, long ago, Tickell 

 recorded them as numbering " two to six." Equally of course they are 

 pure white and the normal Dove-shaped oval. 



Gates, in Hume's Nests and Eggs, gives the average of thu'ty-three 

 eggs as being 1.06 by .82 in. ( = 26.9 by 20.8 mm.), the extremes in length 

 as .95 and 1.17 in. ( = 24.1 and 29.7 mm.), and in breadth .75 and .95 in. 

 ( = 19.0 and 24.1 mm.). 



Mr. C. R. S. Pitman sends me the measurements of a large series which 

 averaged the same as Oates's in length but measures .85 in. in breadth 

 ( = 21.6 mm.). His extreme measurements are, however, well within 

 those given by Gates. A hundred eggs measured by myself give the same 

 average in size as given by Mr. Pitman and does not extend the maximum 

 or minimum given by Gates. 



The Spotted Dove is one of the most familiar and widespread of 

 birds in India over aU but the most bare and desert portions, such as 

 parts of the Deccan and Sind. It is a bird that is very intolerant of 

 thirst, so that a plentiful supply of water is an absolute necessity, and, 

 given this, it wiU be found practically everywhere, plains and hiUs alike, 

 at any rate up to some 8,000 ft. Where water is plentiful there also 

 wiU be found trees and vegetation in sufficiency, for the Spotted Dove 

 does not require heavy forest in which to hide, and though it does not 

 shun the vicinity of such, it will be met with more frequently in 

 cultivated country, especially if this be well supplied with groves 

 and trees. 



If not persecuted it is a most confiding little bird, and will run 

 about on the ground close to human beings without taking fright. It is 

 much given to haimting roads and vUlage-paths, and one can hardly 

 travel many himdred yards along such without coming across one or 

 more pairs searching for grain in the droppings and dust. They are 

 nearly always in pairs and, though the two birds may keep some little 

 distance apart, their constant sweet " coos " are uttered and answered 

 every few minutes ; and when they do fly away it is always together, 

 the nearest tree generally offering them a convenient perch where 

 they can sit side by side until the interloper has passed and they can 

 once more return to their quest for food. Their " coo " is a very soft 

 melodious tone, difficult to set forth in writing, but which Blyth has 



