COLUMBA PHAEONOTA. 



SPECKLED PIGEON. 



(Plate 43.) 



Columba phaeonottis, G. R. Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus., Columbae, 

 p. 32 (1856). 



Columba phaeonota, Sharpe's ed. Layard Birds of S. Afr., pp. 559, 854 

 (1875-84) ; Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxi, p. 268 (1893) ; 

 Woodward, Natal Birds, p. 129 (1899) ; Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, 

 I, p. 403 (1900-01) ; Sclater, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., iii, p. 353 (1905) ; 

 Sclater & Stark, Birds of S. Afr., iv, p. 160 (1906). 



Local Names. " Bosch Duif " of the Boers ; " Ivukutu " of the 

 Amaxosa (Stanford) ; " Leeba " of the Basutos (Murray). 



Desceiption. The bird figured is an adult male. Length 13.| in. 

 The sexes are alike, but in the living or newly-shot bird the adult 

 cocks can be distinguished from the hens by their more brightly 

 burnished necks and slightly more powerful appearance. 



Distribution. This is a purely South African species, but a very near 

 relation (0. guinea), which is much paler on the rump, is found 

 in its stead in East, West, and Central Africa. 



This sporting bird is common all over the country in suitable 

 localities. It has very much the same habits as our wild 

 English Blue Rock (C. livia), and nests in caves or cliffs for 

 choice. However, it is not very particular, and I have found 

 the nests in diy, steep banks along the Vaal and Modder 

 Rivers, and frequently in the cavities formed by a dislodged 

 brick in the side of a well, a very favourite breeding-place of 

 the Barn-Owl. 



It hybridises quite freely with the domestic pigeon, and the 

 progeny are fertile both with tame pigeons and inter se. 



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