26 Lieut. W. V. Legge on the Distribution of 



to within half an inch of the tip. These markings vary in 

 extent in different individuals. Turtur risoria is absent from 

 this district, being replaced by T. suratensis, which is very 

 numerous. Pigeons, as well as all other frugiverous birds, are 

 exceedingly fond of the berry of the '' Lantana '' [Lantana 

 mixta), which has overrun the whole island, Chalcophaps in- 

 tlica is perhaps the most plentiful of our Doves, and is "o-idely 

 distributed throughout the hilly country of the lowlands, fre- 

 quenting bamboo-jungles, in which it breeds, making its nest 

 generally where a tangled mass of the stalks cross each other. 

 The wooded nature of the south-west is particularly favourable 

 to the habits of Jungle- and Spur-fowl ; but the latter predo- 

 minates much in numbers. Every copse and little piece of 

 detached jungle, even in the vicinity of the sea, has its pair ; 

 but notwithstanding their numbers, they evade all attempts 

 at stalking, and seldom or ever fall to the gun of the Euro- 

 pean. The natives shoot them at times by watching near a 

 favourite haunt at day-break, when they generally show them- 

 selves on the edge of the copse for a short interval. Gallo- 

 perdix hicalcarata breeds in this province during the south- 

 west monsoon, from June until September. The nest is a de- 

 pression or hole scratched in the ground, lined with a few 

 dead leaves, under the shelter of a rock or between the pro- 

 jecting roots of a large tree. They lay from two to four eggs 

 of a uniform cream-colour; axis 17 lines, diam. 13^ lines. 

 One that I took from a nest last July has raised white specks 

 all over the surface, such as are sometimes noticeable on the 

 eggs of the domestic Fowl. This part of the island is the 

 head quaii;ers of Excalfactoria chine?isis, which frequents 

 grassy damp fields in numbers, and affords at times fair shoot- 

 ing to the sportsman. Turnix taigoor is not so numerous as 

 in the western province, being principally confined to low 

 bushy outskirts of jungle and citronella-grass plantations. 



It will appear from the description of this part of the 

 southern province, at the commencement of these notes, that 

 it can contain but little area suitable to the habits of Waders 

 and natatorial birds ; and these are therefore, in comparison 

 with other districts in the island, but poorly rc])resented in 



