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Mr. T. H. Newman,



which have also some white on the base of the outer webs, the

effect of this band is that of a Swallow-tailed mark when the tail

is closed, but when it is spread in flight, it looks like a straight

white band drawn across the tail, becoming narrower at the ends.

A few brownish marks on the white of the hind-neck enhance

the “ tame-bird ” look of the Pigeon by assimilating a slightly

mis-marked appearance. Iris, rather narrow, bright yellow;

bare skin round the eye grey, same shade as the feathers of

the head ; bill dark slaty-grey, cere powdered with white ; feet

bright light red, with which the dark slaty-black claws contrast

sharply.


The sexes are very similar, the male being a trifle larger,

and his colours seem brighter and purer, the back is rather less

diffused with brown and the breast appears a purer white. It is

essentially a bird of rocky heights, being found at elevations,

varying according to season, up to 14.000 feet; its habitat extends

from Ferghana in the Russian Empire to Yarkand, Cashmere,

through the Himalayas to Thibet.


Notes on its habits seem rather meagre, but I have come

across the following:—Jerdon, “Birds of India,” hi. p 472,

writes:—“This remarkably coloured Pigeon is found in the

Himalayas, . . . and is stated to frequent rocky heights and

sequestered valleys, from 10,000 feet to the snow level, in large

parties. It feeds in the fields, returning to the rocks to roost, and

is said to be shy and wary.” Hume in “ Lahore to Yarkand,”

commenting on the above, observes :—“ During the summer this

species is, doubtless, as Dr. Jerdon remarks, chiefly found at

heights of from 10,000 to 14,000 feet, far in the interior of the

Himalayas; but during the winter it descends to the lower

ranges, is common about Simla, Massuri, Murree, &c., and the

valleys below them, at elevations of from 3.500 to 7,000 feet, and

occasionally stragglers are killed quite at the foot of the Hills.”

A. L. Adams, P.Z.S. 1858, p. 497, remarks that it “Inhabits the

high and rocky ranges north of Cashmere near the confines of

snow; seen frequently associating with the Indian Blue Rock-

pigeon (C. intermedia). . . . Flight strong and rapid.” Again

in P.Z.S. 1S59, p. 187, he writes: “ Gregarious : common in certain

sequestered mountain-valleys on the northern Cashmere ranges.



