364 COLUMBID^. 



lining, with a decided central depression. They may measure 

 from 5 to 6 inches across. 



Two eggs, I beheve, are always laid. I have seen many nests, 

 but none contained more than this number. 



Captain Hutton tells us that the Emerald Dove is " abundant 

 in the Dhoon, frequenting low jungles. It is likewise a true hill- 

 bird up to 5500 feet throughout the year. It is very partial to 

 the seeds of the castor-oil plant {JRicim(s commnnis). The nest is 

 similar to that of Doves in general, being loosely constructed of 

 roots and small twigs laid across each other with little arraugement, 

 so as to form an open platform, which is placed in some low bush, 

 at about two feet from the ground. The eggs are ^\•hite and two 

 in number. One nest Mas taken in the Dhoon in March, but 

 others were also found later at Jeripanee (5500 feet). It flies 

 verv rapidly and twists and turns amongst the bushes, so as to 

 render it somewhat ditficult to shoot it. The nestling birds are 

 spotted with rusty buff, somewhat resembling those of our Indian 

 Turtle Dove." 



At the IVicobars Mr. Davison " found this species breeding in 

 the latter half of February and the beginning of March. The 

 nests \Aere placed in small trees, about G feet from the ground, or 

 laid on the frond of a young cocoanut-palm at about the same 

 elevation. The nests were built entirely of twigs, but rather more 

 compactly than is usual with Doves ; they were mere circular 

 platforms devoid of any lining, and each contained two eggs." 



Mr. J. Darling, Junior, writes : — " I found a nest of this bird at 

 Yythery on the 7th March, 1873, in a jungle, on the thickly- 

 fo'liaged branch of a tree, built of twigs, about 6 inches in diameter, 

 with a sort of hollow for the eggs ; it contained two young ones. 

 I have noticed a great many old nests on the fronds of the wild 

 cocoanut-palm, which never grows more than 12 or 16 feet high." 



Mr. Bourdillou notes from South Travancore: — "Jan. 13th. 

 Found a nest of this bird in a bush, 8 feet from the ground, with 

 two eggs, ^'ery hard-set, white, 1-2 x 1 inch. Eggs very much like 

 those of Turtur risorius, but slightly rounder." 



Mr. C. J. W. Taylor records the following note from Man- 

 zeerabad in Mysore : — " Common. Eggs taken on the 10th 

 January." 



Colonel Legge, writing of Ceylon, says : — " In the "Western 

 Province I have shot the Beetle-wing in a state of breeding in 

 June, but I have taken its eggs in the Kvu-enegala District in 

 February, so that it probably breeds at no regular period, and very 

 likely has more broods than one in the year." 



The eggs vary from broad to moderately elongated ovals ; some 

 are rather conspicuously pointed just at one end. The shell is 

 fine and fairly glossy. The colour varies from very slightly 

 creamy white to white with a decided, though very pale, ertfe-au-lait 

 tinge. They are, of course, entirely free from all markings. 



The eggs vary in size from 1*02 to 1-19 in length, and from 0*78 

 to 0-9 in breadth. 



