136 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



there. This small bird has a very distinct, hoarse croaking note, 

 and is partial to the tallest trees around houses and cultivation. 

 Of Pigeons proper at least 6 species occur, but 2 only are 

 really abundant. The Rock Pigeon {Columba rupestris) is 

 found in quantity throughout the valleys of the Upper Min 

 River from near Wench'uan Hsien (alt. 3900 feet) to beyond 

 Sungpan (up to 11,000 feet altitude), where steep cliffs abut 

 on cultivated areas. It is equally common around Monkong 

 Ting, in the valley of the Little Gold River (Hsaochin Ho), 

 and around Romi Change, situated on the Upper Tung River. 

 It descends the valley of the Tung River to near Luting chiao, 

 but is not plentiful in that neighbom'hood. This bird is also 

 common north and west of Tachienlu and in the valley of the 

 Yalung River. Indeed, it is generally distributed throughout 

 the whole Chino-Thibetan borderland from 4000 feet altitude 

 to the limits of cultivation {circa 11,000 to 13,000 feet). Large 

 flocks are to be seen on all sides perched on the cliffs, in the 

 fields feeding, or circling around. This Pigeon breeds in 

 the holes in the cliffs, and excellent shooting can be had wher- 

 ever these birds occur. For the table, however, it is inferior 

 to the Greater Turtle Dove. In the Upper Min Valley all the 

 villages are walled, and ruined forts and guard-houses are met 

 with on all sides. Associated with these places, and breeding 

 therein, and also high up in the cliffs, occurs a species of 

 Pigeon which I assume to be C. intermedia,^ a species very 

 closely allied to the Rock Pigeon of Europe (C. livia). This 

 Pigeon is easily domesticated, and under the eaves of their 

 houses the villagers and peasants fix crude bamboo baskets for 

 this bird to nest in. It is regarded as a bird of good omen, and 

 is reputed to shun the haunts of evil-doers ! In the Min Valley 

 this Pigeon is in a state of more or less semi-domestication, 

 and the birds exhibit very considerable variation in plumage, 

 many being indistinguishable from ordinary tame pigeons. It 

 may be that the Rock Pigeon (C. rupestris) mentioned above 

 enters somewhat into the production of this semi-domesticated 

 race. Both races occupy much the same territory, and both 

 are met with in flocks of from 20 to 100 or more birds. 



^ This species is possibly the one from which the Chinese domesticated 

 races of Pigeon have been evolved. 



