(32) ALSOCOMUS TORRINGTONII (Kelaart). 
THE CEYLON WOOD-PIGEON. 
Palumbus elphinstonii var. Blyth, J.A.8.B., XX p. 178 (1851). 
Palumbus torringtonit Kelaart, Pro. Faun. Zey., p. 107 (1852), descr. nulla ; 
Bp., Con. Av., IL p. 42; Jerdon, B.L., III p. 466; Hume, Nests and 
Eggs, p. 499; id., Str. Feath., VII p. 424; id. ib., VIII p. 109; id., 
Cat. no. 786, bis; Oates, in Hume’s Nests and Eggs, 2nd ed., II p. 348. 
Palumbus torringtoniae Houldsworth, P.Z.S. 1872, p. 466; Legge, B. Cey., 
p. 693; Butler, J.B.N.H.S., IX p. 310. ; 
Columba torringtoniae Salvadori, Cat. B.M., X XI p. 303; Sharpe, Hand-List 
IE fos 7Ale 
Alsocomus torringtoniae Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV p. 96. 
Vernacular Names. WMila-goya, Cing. in central provinces, Ceylon; 
Mahavilla goya, Cing., apud Layard. 
Description.—Adult male. General type of coloration like that of 
the Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon. The upper part of the head and nape lilac-grey 
glossed with lilac, a faint green gloss also showing in certain lights ; patch 
on back and sides of neck black, broadly tipped white, the patch being much 
smaller than in the last bird and with fewer green edgings, which are often 
altogether absent; upper-back and sides of neck below patch, lilac-brown 
glossed with the most brilliant copper-purple; back, rump, upper tail-coverts, 
and wing-coverts deep slaty, almost blackish-grey, most of the feathers of 
the back, rump and inner coverts narrowly edged with black; quills dark 
brown with very narrow pale edges to the tips and outer webs; tail blackish- 
brown ; sides of head, lores, and sides of throat pale vinous-grey ; the chin 
and centre of throat albescent ; lower-neck and whole breast reddish-grey 
or reddish-ashy and glossed with a purple sheen somewhat less intense than 
the purple lustre on the back ; remainder of lower-parts dull reddish-ashy, 
palest on centre of abdomen and darkest on under tail-coverts ; under wing- 
coverts, axillaries, and flanks very dark ashy-grey or slaty-brown. 
Colours of soft parts. ‘‘ Iris pale red, orbital skin dull pink ; bill plum- 
beous, apical half bluish ; legs and feet pinkish fleshy, toes and soles red ; 
legs sometimes white with the front of the tarsus and tops of the toes 
reddish ” (Legge). 
Measurements. Length 13 or 14 in. ( = 330.2 to 355.6 mm.); wing 
7.20 in. ( = 182.8 mm.) to 8.20 ( = 208.6 mm.) with an average of 7.63 in. 
( = 193.8 mm.); bill at front barely .6 in. (= 15.2 mm.) and from gape 
about 1 in. (= 25.4 mm.) ; tarsus about .9 in. ( = 22.8 mm.). 
‘Length 13.5 to 14.3 in. ; wing 7.7 to 8.0 in. ; tail 5.25 in. ; tarsus 1.1 in. ; 
middle toe 1.72 ; its claw (straight) 0.4 in. ; bill to gape 1.1 in.” (Legge). 
Adult female. Like the male. ‘‘ Head, chest, and under-surface more 
