CHAPTER LXI. 



Indian Qreen*imngecl Pigeon. 



I HIS gorgeously plumaged bird reminds one, from the 

 brilliancy of its colouration, of one of the Fruit 

 Pigeons, not to say of the Birds of Paradise, but it is 

 nevertheless no less distinct from the latter than it is 

 from the former of those feathered jewels, for it is a 

 very frugal and hardy seed-eater. 



Although a native of our Indian Empire it will live 

 quite as well in this country as any of our domestic 

 inmates of the Dovecote, and on the same kind of food, 

 though it displays a preference for yellow maize, which 

 is much too fattening for it to live upon exclusively. 



In shape the Green-winged Dove or Pigeon is com- 

 pact and plump and in size it about equals one of the 

 smaller Tumblers. The plumage is a rich metallic green 

 on the upper surface of the body and a delicate vinous- 

 red on the lower parts; the under-aspect, however, of 

 the tail is black. 



