31 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 
Pigeons, (Treron, Crocopus, Osmotreron, Sphenocercus, Carpophaga, 
Alsocomus, Palumbus, Palumbena, Columba).—There areseveral well-mark- 
ed groups of pigeons. The green pigeons (Z'reron, Crocopus, Osmotreron, 
Sphenocercus) are forest-loving, fruit-eating birds, partly gregarious, and 
wandering a good deal during the winter, though all are permanent 
residents of the Indo-Malayan region, and the species that occur in India 
breed there too. The imperial pigeons (Carpophaga) are similar in their 
habits, but even more confined to dense forests. The wood pigeons 
(Alsocomus, Palumbus) are more migratory, more shy, and with one 
exception confined to mountain ranges. The stock pigeon (Palumbena) 
is strictly migratory, visiting India in the cold weather only, in vast 
flocks. The true pigeons (Columba) are gregarious, and are probably per- 
manent residents where they occur, but this has only been ascertained in 
the case of the common blue pigeon (C. intermedia). All pigeons lay 
either one or two pure white eggs on a small rough platform of sticks. 
Doves, (Macropygia, Turtur, Chalcophaps).—Are less gregarious 
than pigeons. They all breed in India. Only one, Sykes’ turtle dove 
(2. meena), appears to wander much from its breeding place. They feed 
almost entirely on the ground, and are very widespread in this country. 
They lay two pure white eggs on a tiny platform of sticks. 
Sandgrouse, (Péerocles, Syrrhaptes).—-Are usually only cold 
weather visitants to this country. They associate in large flocks, and 
frequent dry, open, or cultivated plains. The painted sandgrouse (P- 
fasciatus) affects rocky ground, and the Thibetan sandgrouse (Syrrhap- 
tes tibetanus) is only found in the Himalayas at great elevations. Two 
only of the sandgrouse, the common and the painted, are known to breed 
with any regularity in this country. Their eggs are richly coloured and 
blotched. In shape they are elongated and cylindrical. The eggs of a 
third kind P. lichtensteini have lately been taken in Sind. 
Pheasants, (Pavo, Polyplectron, Lophophorus, Ceriornis, Euplo- 
camus, Ithaginis, Pucrasia, Phasianus, Gallophasis).—With the exception 
of the peacock (Pavo cristatus), which is found in wooded tracts 
throughout India, the Phasianide are confined to the Himalayas. 
They are found at all elevations, but only in forest country, with dense 
undergrowth. They are all permanent residents, breeding on the 
mountains, and descending into the valleys in the winter to feed. The 
eggs of many of them are boldly blotched, while others approach closely 
to the eggs of domestic fowls. 
