NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



of wing pale blue. Tips of a few outer secondary coverts white, 

 forming a white patch above the speculum, which is metallic- 

 green. Inner secondaries are a bluish-green. Below fulvous 

 with dark spots and bars of brown, getting darker on the under 

 tail coverts. Iris lemon-yellow. Bill deep reddish-brown to 

 black. Legs yellow. 



Lengthy 20.5 ; wing, 10. 15 ; tail, 3.5. 



The female is similar to the European shoveller [Spatula 

 clypeata). 



Distribution. — The shoveller occurs only in South Africa 

 and Angola. It has not been found in Rhodesia, and is rare in 

 the Transvaal and South-West Africa. 



Habits. — This bird is nowhere common, and thus very 

 little is known of its habits. Its eggs are a delicate cream 

 tinged with green, and measure 2.16 by 1.5. 



Red-eyed Dove {Turtur semitorquatus). (Vol. II., 

 p. 248.) 



Description. — Male : forehead and crown slate-grey, 

 shading to pale pink on the cheeks and nape, followed by a 

 distinct half-collar of black on the nape. Rest of upper surface 

 pale brown, the greater wing coverts and rump having a more 

 bluish tinge and the wing quills a darker brown. Below 

 greyish-pink, becoming nearly white on the chin and bluish- 

 grey on the flanks, under wing coverts, abdomen, and under 

 tail coverts. Basal two-thirds of tail black ; rest bluish-white. 

 Iris orange-red. Bare skin round eye red. Bill purplish- 

 black. Feet reddish-purple. 



Length., 13.5 ; wing, 7.2 ; tail, 5.0. 



Distribution. — This dove occurs in the thickly wooded 

 parts of Africa, south of Abyssinia and Senegal. In South 

 Africa it is fairly common along the eastern coast of the Cape 

 and Natal. Inland it is rare, being entirely absent from the 

 Transvaal, 



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