242 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



(1878); B. O. U. List Brit. B. p. 138 (1883); Saunders, 

 ed. Yarrell's Brit. B. iii. p. i (1883) ; Seebohm, Hist. Brit. 

 B. ii. p. 396 (1884) ; Saunders, Man. Brit. B. p. 467 

 (1889); Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 299(1893); 

 Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. B. part xxxii. (1896). 

 (Plate CXX1.) 



Adult Male. General colour above slaty-drab, the wing- 

 coverts like the back, the greater series a little clearer slate- 

 colour ; the outer wing-coverts of all the series white, forming 

 a band round the edge of the wing ; bastard-wing and primary 

 coverts slaty-black ; quills brown, externally slaty, lighter at the 

 base of the outer secondaries, the primaries all edged externally 

 with white ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts clear 

 bluish-grey ; upper surface of tail bluish-grey, the terminal third 

 blackish ; under surface of tail slaty-black at the base and at 

 the end, with a broad band of light grey in the middle ; head 

 and neck bluish-grey, glossed with metallic green and lilac on 

 the hind-neck ; on the sides of the neck a large patch of 

 creamy-white feathers, the lower part of the hinder-neck and 

 the lower sides of the neck glossed with metallic lilac ; sides of 

 face and throat bluish-grey, paler towards the chin ; under 

 surface of body from the lower throat to the breast vinous or 

 lilac, with the abdomen, sides of body, and under tail-coverts 

 pale bluish-grey, like the under wing-coverts, axillaries, and 

 quill-linings, the latter being a shade lighter grey ; bill orange- 

 red at the base, yellow towards the tip, the membrane covering 

 the nostrils almost white ; tarsi and feet bright red ; iris straw- 

 yellow. Total length, 16 inches; culmen, 0*85; wing, 9^8; 

 tail, 5 '4 ; tarsus, 1*25. 



Adult Female. Similar to the male, but a little smaller. Total 

 length, 15*5 inches; wing, 9*5. 



Young Birds. Resemble the adults, but are duller and paler 

 in colour, and have no white patch on the side of the neck ; the 

 bill is dull red at the base, greyish towards the tip. 



Nestling. Leaden-grey, covered with hairy down of a straw- 

 yellow colour. 



Range in Great Britain. The Wood-Pigeon is generally distri- 

 buted throughout England and Wales, receiving large additions 



