CEYLON WOOD-PIGEON 169 
ruddy than in the male, and the cupreous hue of the lower hind neck deeper ; 
under tail-coverts and flanks redder” (Legge). : 
“Length 13.2 in. ; wing 7.2 in. ; tail 5.0 in. ; billto gape 1.0 in.” (Legge). 
Colours of soft parts are also similar to the same parts in the male. 
“Legs and feet not so red, with the posterior part of tarsus and sides of toes 
fleshy-white ” (Legge). 
Measurements. Unfortunately, very few of the specimens in the British 
Museum collection are sexed and it is impossible to say from these whether 
there is any difference in size between the sexes though it is probable the 
female will be found to average smaller. 
Young male. Similar to the adult male but less highly glossed and with 
the grey parts more brown and less slate coloured. The grey of the head 
is also browner and not at all glossed. 
A young bird is thus described by Legge: ‘‘ Upper surface ashy 
plumbeous ; forehead and face slightly ruddy ; neck patch not developed ; 
the feathers of the nuchal patch being blackish, with ashy whitish tips, not 
pure white; the metallic hues of the hind neck faintly developed; chest 
ruddy plumbeous ; the under surface vinaceous slaty, washed with fulvous 
brown on the breast. Some examples have the wing-coverts edged with 
rusty and the chin and gorge more albescent than in the adult. 
“ Birds of the year have the iris yellowish-grey, with generally an outer 
ring of pale red (the normal colour of the adult) ; bill dusky at the tip; legs 
and feet dull red anteriorly, dusky fleshy behind.” 
Birds on first leaving the nest have the wing-coverts and some of the 
feathers of the back edged with rusty-rufous, but all these markings seem 
to be lost in the first autumn moult. 
Distribution. Ceylon only. Within the limits of Ceylon, Legge thus 
describes the places it frequents : ‘“‘ Essentially a bird of the mountain forests, 
this splendid Pigeon is well known to all Europeans in the Central Provinces. 
It is very abundant in the Newara Eliya plateau forests and on all the 
surrounding wooded slopes down to an elevation of about 3,000 ft.; below 
this it is not numerous; Kelaart speaks of examples being obtained at 
Gampola; but this was in the days of forest ; now that the whole country 
round that district is denuded, the visits of the Torrington Pigeon to it must 
be few and far between. I met with it at Newara Eliya in May, and found 
it plentiful on the Horton Plains in January ; it seemed then to prefer the 
singular isolated groves on the plains to the surrounding forest, no doubt 
owing to a greater abundance of food obtaining at that time in the former. 
It is very numerous in the Peak forests, where I procured it under 3,000 ft. ; 
and I have no doubt these vast jungles stretching along the high mountain 
chain up to the Horton Plains now forms its chief stronghold. In the Morowah 
Korale I have killed it at Aning Kanda Estate as low as about 2,400 ft., and 
between these and the Kukul Korale it is, I understand, almost abundant 
at times. 
“Mr. Holdsworth remarks that it ‘changes its locality according to the 
season and the time at which the fruit of particular trees ripen.’ He found 
it numerous at Newera Eliya at the end and beginning of the year. Mr. Bligh 
has noticed that a migratory movement takes place just previous to the 
“bursting ’ of each monsoon; which, together with its wanderings in search 
of fruit, will probably account for its somewhat periodical appearance in 
many districts.” 
