PIGEONS 



To deal now with the more common varieties, 

 we have : 



The spotted dove (Turtur suratensis). By far the com- 

 monest species to be found in Ceylon, frequenting the 

 whole of the low country, and up to as high as 3000 feet 

 above the sea. 



Length about n inches; bill dark; legs and feet red. 



Head, throat, and breast ashy-grey ; black collar spotted 

 white ; back and wing coverts, &c., ashy-brown to reddish- 

 grey ; white or reddish-grey spots all over back and wing 

 coverts. Though these birds look fine and plump they 

 have very small bodies, are hard to kill as they can carry 

 a lot of shot, and are poor eating, being rather tough. 

 May usually be found in numbers in dry paddy fields and 

 such-like open spaces. 



The bronze-wing dove (Chalco-phaps indica), one of the 

 most beautiful of all doves, may be met with throughout 

 all Ceylon forests as it is a lover of deep damp shades, 

 whence its plaintive melodious " coo " may be heard at all 

 times. It is a solitary bird and not to be found in numbers 

 except in the fruit season, on the trees they affect, though 

 in the low country at the height of the dry season they 

 may be seen in fair numbers congregating at the water- 

 pools towards evening for a drink. Length 10 to 10.5 

 inches ; bill red ; legs and feet red. Forehead white, 

 blending into ashy-blue on the crown ; neck, throat, and 

 breast purple-brown ; back and wing coverts a lovely 

 metallic blue- green, showing a wonderful bronze hue in 

 some lights ; lower back sepia-brown, crossed by two broad 

 bands of bluish-white ; tail blackish. 



These lovely little birds are excellent eating, and usually 

 very plump. An occasional flying shot may be got at one 

 on a jungle road crossing from side to side, or flying down 



