222 THE NICOBAR GROUND-PIGEON. 



and lays several eggs, and the young, like those of 

 the preceding species, follow the parent birds soon 

 after their evolution from the egg. The notes of 

 this bird consist of low guttural cooings, not nearly 

 so sonorous or pleasing as those of our Common 

 Ring Pigeon. Unlike the Columbidse in general, it 

 shews but little timidity or wildness of disposition, 

 on which account it is easily rendered tame, and 

 made an interesting addition to the aviary ; but it 

 does not appear that any success has hitherto attend- 

 ed the attempts to propagate it out of the warm cli- 

 mates of which it is a native. Upon the base of the 

 upper mandible of the male (and probably confined 

 to the season of love) is a round fleshy tubercle, 

 analogous to that we have stated as existing in the 

 Carpophaga aenea, and Carpophaga oceanica, a fact 

 peculiarly interesting, and which serves to keep up 

 the connexion between these otherwise widely sepa- 

 rated groups. 



The length of the Nicobar is nearly fifteen inches. 

 The bill, which is rather slender, and the tip but 

 little deflected, is about an inch and a quarter long. 

 The whole of the plumage, with the exception of the 

 tail, which is pure white, and the quills, which are 

 deep blackish-blue, with greenish reflections, is of a 

 rich metallic green, changing with every play of light 



aviary of Mr Beale at Macao, that the Nicobar pigeons 

 " were usually seen perched upon the trees, even upon the 

 loftiest branches. They build their rude nests, and rear 

 their young upon trees, similar to all the pigeon tribe." 

 Bennefs Wand. ii. p. 64. 



