254 INDIAN PIGEONS AND DOVES 



"Length 8.35 to 9.25; expanse 11.75 to 12.62; tail from vent 3.62 to 

 4.55 ; wing 3.75 to 4.1 ; tarsus .75 to .8 ; bill from gape .7 to .75 ; weight 2.0 

 to 2.25 oz." (Davison). 



Female. Similar to the male. 



Measurements. The same as in the male, the largest and smallest 

 birds in the Museum Collection are both females, the former with a wing 

 of 4.1 in. ( = 104.1 mm.), and the latter of 3.70 in. ( = 92 mm.). 



Hume, it should be noted, makes out the female to average a good bit 

 larger than the male : " Length 8.62 to 9.5 ; expanse 12.25 to 12.62 ; tail 

 from vent 4.0 to 4.45 ; wing 3.75 to 4.5 ; tarsus .7 to 1.76 ; bill from gape 

 .65 to .75 ; weight 1.75 to 1.25 ozs." 



Colours of soft parts. " Irides bluish-white ; orbital skin pale bluish- 

 grey ; bill dull, pale plumbeous ; front of tarsus dull pale purple ; back dirty 

 pink" (Davison). 



" Iris white ; legs dull purple ; bill dull blue ; orbital skin ultramarine " 

 (Everett). 



A bird from Java, unsexed but probably a female, has the whole head 

 reddish-brown, the fore-head more brightly rufous, and the feathers about 

 the vent are broadly splashed with the same. This colour may be due to 

 a stain from some fruit getting on to the bill and fore-head and thence to the 

 other feathers on the bird preening itself. 



Young. Similar to the adult, but the banding on the sides of the breast 

 and flanks is continued quite across the breast and abdomen ; the pink 

 tint on the former part of the plumage is absent, being replaced by dull 

 pale rufous on the pale bars. 



Distribution. This little Ground-Dove is found in the extreme south 

 of Tenasserim, whence it ranges south throughout the Malay Peninsula 

 and Archipelago, as far east as the Phillipines and the west of New Guinea ; 

 it is also found in Siam, but is apparently rare there and was never met with 

 by Count Gmldenstolpe during his expedition in 1911-12. 



It is not indigenous to, but has been introduced into, Seychelles, 

 Madagascar, Mauritius, Round Island, Reunion, and St. Helena, and appears 

 to thrive in these various climates. 



Nidification. There is practically nothing on record in regard to 

 the nesting of this little Dove. The British Museum Collection contains 

 only one egg which is described by Gates as "slightly glossy," and measures 

 .82 by .64 in. ( = 20.8 by 16.3 mm.). 



My own collectors in Tenasserim failed to obtain the nest and eggs, but I 

 have received the latter from Mr. W. A. T. Kellow, from near Perak, and from 

 other collectors in the Malay States. All the eggs in my collection are very 

 regular ovals, equal at both ends. The texture is fine, but not very glossy, 

 and the shell very stout for so tiny an egg. The extremes in length are 

 .93 and .78 in. ( = 23.6 and 19.8 mm.), and in breadth .70 and .56 in. ( = 

 17.7 and 14.2 mm.). The difference in size between the largest and smallest 

 egg is very remarkable, and I am inclined to think my smallest pair must 

 be quite abnormal. The average is .87 by .65 in. ( = 22.1 by 16.6 mm.). 



The nest is said to be a tiny platform of thin twigs and bents, only about 

 four inches in diameter, and most flimsy in character, placed on low scrubby 

 bushes. 



The eggs in my collection were taken in January, February, and June. 



