INDIAN RING-DOVE 223 



rare in some districts which would seem suitable for its habitat, and 

 common in a few others which appear to be quite the reverse. On the 

 whole, this Dove seems to require ample open country, and to dislike 

 heavy forests and jungle and, whilst being able to stand in comfort the 

 drought and heat of the hottest and most desert places, such as Sind, 

 the Deccan, etc., is unable to endure a very heavy rainfall such as 

 occurs in the Assam Valley or in the district stretching from Cachar 

 and Sylhet towards Burma. 



It is not a migratory bird in the true sense of the term, but moves 

 about locally, according to the seasons and the food-supply obtainable, 

 probably wandering a good deal further east during the cold weather 

 and dry season than in the rains. 



Vertically it moves upwards with the advent of the hot months, 

 being found up to at least 8,000 ft. in the western Himalayas, probably 

 a good deal higher, and in October it returns to the lower hills and 

 plains. Ward speaks of it as common in Kashmir, but does not say 

 up to what height it is found, nor unfortunately do Colonel Wilson, 

 Davidson, and others who have so industriously worked this State. 



In its habitat and haunts the Indian Ring-Dove is almost as con- 

 fiding and tame as the Spotted Dove and Little Brown Dove, and it 

 may be seen feeding round about the villages in any open patch of 

 cultivation, whilst it constantly enters the compounds and gardens of 

 the European houses. It runs about the groimd much in the same 

 way as do the Doves just referred to ; perhaps they are not quite so 

 tame as those Doves are, and perhaps also they are not quite so ex- 

 clusively ground-birds. Besides resting on trees during the heat of the 

 day and roosting thereon at night, they perch a good deal at odd times, 

 and occasionally feed on fruit-trees. 



Their diet is, of course, principally grain and seed, which they 

 obtain from the cultivated country and grass-land, but they are also 

 fruit-eaters when necessity compels. 



In Turkestan, Afghanistan, etc., it appears to be quite as fond 

 of the vicinity of human habitation as it is in India. Scully writes 

 of it in Turkestan : " It is always to be found near villages and houses : 

 perching on trees, or running about on the ground picking up grain 

 and seeds. The birds are very tame, and in winter they would come 

 right up to the door of my room at Yarkand to be fed. A regular colony 

 of these Doves Uved about the oompoimd of the Residency at Yarkand. 



