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Tho following member of this group 

 has also been taken in the Yangtse 

 Valley :— 



Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pall), 

 Whiskered Tern. 



Family, Columbidae, Pigeons and Doves. 



The 300 known species of this 

 family differ widely in their habits and 

 haunts. When drinking they do not 

 raise their heads as do other birds to 

 swallow, but keep the bill immersed 

 until the draught is finished. The 

 young are hatched naked and are fed 

 by regurgitation. 



China has 15 species of this family, 

 of which 3 frequent the Yangtse Valley. 



SPOTTED-NECKED DOVE. 



SPILOPELIA CHINENSIS SCOP. 

 [Turtur chinensis CScop)] . 



Description. — Length 121 inches. 

 Bill plumbeous. Legs deep pink. Iris 

 orange colored. Upper parts brown, 

 feathers bordered rufous. 



Scapulars and wing coverts bordered 

 with bright rufous. Eump silvery blue. 

 Under parts grey washed with rose. 

 Wings and base of tail brown. This 

 bird has a patch of the black feathers 

 at the side of the neck, each marked 

 at the tip with a small. white circle 

 having a black center. These patches 

 sometimes meet at the back of the 

 neck forming a demi-coUar : this is the 

 distinguishing characteristic of this 

 bird. 



Distrihution. — All of Asia, China, 

 and Japan. It is occasionally seen in 

 Europe. A very common resident in 

 the Yangtse Valley. 



