302 BIRDS OP BRITISH BURMAH. 



661. CARPOPHAGA GBISEICAPILLA. 



THE GREY-HEADED IMPERIAL PIGEON. 



Ducula griseicapilla, Wald. Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, xvi. p. 228 ; id. Ibis, 1875, 

 p. 459 ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 402 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, His, 1877, p. 467. Car- 

 pophaga griseicapilla, Damson, S. F. v. p. 460 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. ?i. 

 p. 418 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 109. Carpophaga insignis apud Bl. B. Burm. 

 p. 144. 



Description. Chin and throat pure white ; remainder of lower surface 

 pale grey, the breast being tinged with lilac ; back of neck vinous ; inter- 

 scapulary region brown with a vinous tinge ; wing-coverts brown like the 

 back, but not so strongly tinted with vinous ; quills dark brown, almost 

 black ; uropygium and upper tail-coverts dark ash ; rectrices above dark 

 brown, with a broad grey terminal band ; lower surface of rectrices pale 

 grey ; under tail-coverts pale cream-colour ; forehead, crown, nape, cheeks 

 and ear-coverts pure French grey. (Walden.} 



Legs and feet deep lake-pink ; bill deep lake-pink, except horny portion, 

 which is pale whity brown ; irides pearly grey (Davison) . Iris greyish 

 white ; orbital skin greyish brown ; bill reddish plum- colour, whitish at 

 the tip ( Wardlaw Ramsay) . 



Length 18*5 inches, tail 8, wing 9'5, tarsus 1*1, bill from gape 1*6. The 

 female is rather smaller. 



The Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon was obtained by Capt. Wardlaw 

 Ramsay on the Karin hills east of Tonghoo at from 4000 to 4200 feet 

 elevation ; and on these hills it appears to be confined to the higher parts. 

 Mr. Davison met with it on Mooleyit mountain, where he states that it 

 was not uncommon. He found the nest in January, containing one egg. 



Mr. Blyth, in his Catalogue, gives C. insignis from the mountains of 

 Tenasserim (misprinted Arrakan, as is evident from a perusal of the original 

 reference, J. A. S. B. xxviii. p. 416). There is little doubt that by this 

 name he intended to indicate C. griseicapilla. 



Mr. Hume mentions a large Pigeon which Mr. Davison observed in 

 great quantities at Merguiin August, and suggests that it maybe C.badia. 

 This Imperial Pigeon may be recognized by its chestnut-red back and 

 wing-coverts. Observers in Tenasserim should be on the look-out for it. 



