SPORT IN WESTERN CHINA 137 



In alpine regions, from 10,000 to 14,000 feet elevation, in 

 proximity to snowclad peaks, there is a species of Pigeon which 

 may be termed the " Snow Pigeon." This bird (C. leuconota) 

 is larger than either of the foregoing species, with much 

 lighter-coloured plumage. I first noted this Pigeon on the 

 slopes of the Ta-p'ao shan north of Tachienlu. It also occurs 

 on the Cheto shan and other places west of Tachienlu. It is 

 met with in flocks, but does not appear to be common. 



A Green Pigeon, possibly Sphenocercus apicicauda, is occa- 

 sionally met with in the Chino-Thibetan borderland, but 

 is rare, and probably only a summer visitant. The long tail 

 and beautiful plumage render this a strikingly handsome bird. 

 I met with it once only, and that was around the hamlet of 

 Mao-niu, situated about midway between Romi Chango and 

 Tachienlu. This little village is surrounded on all sides by 

 large forests, and a small flock of Green Pigeons was circling 

 around high up out of gun range. L'Abbe David mentions the 

 Green-winged Ground Dove [Chalcophaps indica) as occurring 

 around Mupin. The same authority says that two other 

 Himalayan pigeons — the Spotted Pigeon {Columha hodgsoni) 

 and the Long-tailed Pigeon {Macropygia tusalia) — are also 

 occasionally met with around Mupin. I have no knowledge 

 of either of these birds. 



In north-western Hupeh Mr. Zappey and I saw on one 

 occasion a couple of pigeons that looked distinctly green in 

 colour, but we were unable to obtain specimens. Probably 

 these birds were Crocopus phcenicopterus. 



The Chinese name for Pigeons and Doves alike is " Pan- 

 chu." My followers gave the name " Lu (green) Pan-chu " 

 to the Sphenocercus, but this is the only kind to which I ever 

 heard a special vernacular name applied. 



Pigeons are everywhere domestic pets with the Chinese, 

 and pigeons' eggs enter very largely into a much-esteemed 

 Chinese soup. Like many other of their favourite foods and 

 medicines, pigeons' eggs are supposed to possess aphrodisiac 

 properties. A common practice in Western China is to fix 

 on the top of the pigeon's tail at its base a small, round, hollow 

 piece of wood having a slit on one side, which produces a 

 humming, whistling noise as the birds circle around in flight. 



