(18) DUCULA INSIGNIS INSIGNIS (Hodg.). 
HODGSON’S IMPERIAL PIGEON. 
Ducula insignis Hodg., As. Res., XIX p. 162 (1836) ; Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV 
p- 21; Stuart Baker, J.B.N.H.S., X p. 360; Sharpe, Hand-List, p. 66. 
Carpophaga insignis Blyth, J.AS.B., XIV p. 855; id., Cat. B.M.AS.B., 
p- 232; Jerdon, B.I., III p. 458; Godw.-Aus., J.A.S.B., XLII pt. 2 
p. 171; id. ib., XLV pt. 2 p. 83; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 496; 
id., Str. Feath., III p. 328; id. ib., VIII p. 109; id., Cat. no. 781 ; Oates, 
in Hume’s Nests and Eggs, 2nd ed. II p. 368; Salvadori, Cat. B.M., 
XXI p. 216; Harington, B. Burma, p. 65. 
Vernacular Names. Dukul, H. in Nepal; Fomok, Lepcha; Lal 
Pagoma, Assamese ; Daohukuruma gajao, Cachari; Inruikwru gaherba, Naga. ; 
Hgnet-nga-nwa, Burmese. 
Description.—Adult male. Whole upper part of the head, nape, neck, 
and shoulders a vinous or lilac-grey, changing gradually into copper-brown 
on the mantle, back, scapulars, lesser and median wing-coverts ; lower-back, 
rump, and upper tail-coverts dark grey, the first named more or less suffused 
with copper-brown. Upper aspect of tail black on the basal two-thirds, 
the extreme base being rather paler and the terminal third brownish-grey. 
Chin, throat, and lower half of cheeks white, changing gradually into ashy 
or vinous-grey on the breast and rest of the lower-parts except the under 
tail-coverts, which are pale buff; the abdomen is often paler than the breast ; 
flanks and axillaries a purer grey; under-surface of the wings dark grey, 
the primaries and secondaries above being black except on the inner 
secondaries which, with the greater coverts, are olive-brown. Under aspect 
of the tail the same in pattern as above, but much paler in colour. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris pale grey, grey or bluish-grey ; bill whitish 
at the extreme tip, pale brown on the succeeding portion, and deep 
purplish-fleshy or dull carmine on the cere and basal portion ; legs and feet 
deep purple-lake, or rather dull coral-red much suffused with carmine, soles 
paler and pinker, the claws pale brown, darker at the tip ; orbital skin purple- 
grey, purer grey immediately round the eye. 
Measurements. Length 18 to 20 in. ( = 457 to 508 mm.) ; wing 9 to 
10.2 in. ( = 228.6 to 259 mm.) ; tail 7 to 8.5 in. ( = 177.8 to 216.0 mm.) ; bill 
at front about 1 in. ( = 25.4 mm.) and from gape about 1.5 in. ( = 39 mm.) ; 
tarsus 1 to 1.25 in. ( = 25.4 to 32.2 mm.). 
Adult female. Does not differ from the male. 
The series I have measured shows that the female is on an average a 
trifle smaller than the male, the wing measuring 9.2 in. ( = 233.6 mm.) 
against 9.45 in. ( = 239.5 mm.). 
Young. ‘“‘Duller; scarcely any purple tinge on the back and wing 
coverts; the latter edged with rufous chestnut; the head greyish with 
scarcely any vinous tinge” (Salvadori). 
