Cage-Birds of Calcutta. 443 



specific difference in all the ring-necked species of Turtur I 

 have seen alive. 



The common Mild Tartle-Doves are frequently to be seen 

 for sale — Turtur suratensis, T. camhayensis, T. rlsorius, 

 T. orientalis, and T. tranqueharicus. Mr. Rutledge once 

 gave rae a very peculiar albinoid cream-coloured male of the 

 last species. Chalcophaps indica and Geopelia striata are 

 also often to be had, and Calcenas nicoharica is pretty com- 

 monly imported. 



Of the Fruit-Pigeons, the " HurriaP' [Crocopus phconi- 

 copterus) is generally for sale in the Bazaar, and, more rarely, 

 one may meet with the "Kokla''^ {Sphenocercus sphenurus), 

 which, although much esteemed in some parts, is apparently 

 not often kept in Calcutta. Osmotrerun hicincta is com- 

 moner. Carpophaga cenea and Myristicivora luctuosa are 

 sometimes imported in considerable numbers, but cannot be 

 called abundant. On a few occasions recently Mr. Rut- 

 ledge has procured the lovely Ptilopus jamhu, and I once saw 

 a splendid iJ^yrero/?. capellii in his possession. Fruit-Pigeons 

 are quite easy to keep, as they live well on any soft 

 vegetable food, such as 5«^oo-paste or boiled rice, and I 

 wonder that the home dealers do not take more trouble to 

 introduce these most exquisitely coloured birds. 



Of foreign Pigeons, the most frequently imported are 

 Ocyphaps lophotes and Phlogmnas luzonica, not to mention 

 the great Ground-Pigeon alluded to above. Other species 

 occasionally occur, such as Leiicosarcia picata, Phaps chal- 

 coptera, and Geopelia cuneata, while a short time ago a 

 good many Turtur chinensis and T. bitorguatus were imported, 

 especially the latter, which proved quite a drug in the market. 

 Before leaving the Pigeons, 1 ought to record the curious fact 

 that the Alpine Columba leuconota, which Mr. Rutledge some- 

 times obtains, bears the heat perfectly well, and even shows a 

 desire to breed. As its note has apparently not been re- 

 corded, I may mention that it is not a coo, but a repeated 

 croak, not unlike a hiccough, and, much as the bird resembles 

 the domestic Pigeon, I have never seen it sweep the ground 

 with its tail when courting, but rather raise it. 



2g 2 



