COLUMBID. 299 
ones) and the tertials nearly the same, but a shade 
darker and with a slight brownish tinge; the rump 
and tail-coverts the same as the head, if anything a 
little lighter; the tail-feathers are black at the tip, 
in the centre is a broadish band of light bluish grey, 
and the base is dark bluish grey; the outer wing- 
coverts, both greater and lesser, are white, and those 
next inside are white on the outer web only—this 
makes a conspicuous white patch on the wing; the 
bastard wing is black; the primary quills nearly 
black, but. with a streak of white on the outer web, 
broadest towards the base; on each side of the neck 
is a conspicuous white patch—this patch is sur- 
rounded by feathers reflecting a metallic gloss of 
purple and green; chin and throat bluish grey, like 
the head; the breast is purplish pink: belly and 
thighs nearly white, but being tinged with the same 
colour as the breast it gives them a dirty appearance ; 
flanks and under tail-coverts nearly the same as the 
upper tail-coverts, but slightly lighter; the legs and 
toes red; claws brown. The female is the same as 
the male. The young birds in their first plumage 
may be distinguished from the old ones, as they want 
the white patches on the side of the neck. Varieties 
occasionally occur, mostly spotted over the body 
with white, but such, or any varieties, appear to be 
very unusual; not one has ever come under my own 
observation. 
