CEYLON PIGEONS AND GAME BIRDS. 353 
Distribution Common all round the coast, except in the 
palm belts, where it keeps a little further inland ; it is also 
found over a good part of the low-country in the interior. 
Blanford unites in one species the larger northern form of 
this Pigeon, which is found in Bengal, Assam, and Burma, 
ranging eastward to South China and south-eastwards to 
Malaya, with the decidedly smaller form from Southern India 
and Ceylon. Stuart Baker distinguishes the latter as a sub- 
species, O. bicincta bicincta. 
Habits —The present species, though often found in the 
same locality as the Pompadour Green Pigeon, is rather 
fonder of lower jungle or even scrub. In the chena districts 
in the Southern Province it has taken kindly to the fruit of 
the lantana ; it also feeds on wild dates and the berries of 
various shrubs, as well as on wild figs and other forest fruits. 
Like all Green Pigeons, these birds will swarm on the boughs 
of a favourite fruit tree, and their plumage so harmonizes 
with the foliage that unless they move it is almost impossible 
to see them. The call is a low soft whistle, like that of the 
last species, but generally preceded by a funny little chuckle. 
The breeding season is from February till May, and some- 
times again from July till September. I have found a fair 
number of nests, always by the side of a path or clearing and 
placed from 6 to 10 feet up in a low tree or tall shrub. Two 
white eggs of the usual type are laid on a very scanty structure 
of twigs. During the day incubation is carried on by the male, 
which sits so close that one can almost touch it. 
The average size of the eggs is about 1:10 by ‘88. 
Sub-family Carpophagine. 
Imperial Pigeons. 
The Imperial Pigeons are large fruit-eating species with 
arboreal habits resembling those of Green Pigeons. In their 
structure they are more akin to the Common Pigeon. The 
toes are stout, the sole broad and flat. Two species have 
occurred. th Ceylon: one is fairly common; the other owes 
its place in the list to a single and recent record. 
