OSMOTREROJf. 7 







abdomen are greenish yellow like the chin and throat, the lower 

 abdomen becoming quite yellow, and there is a greenish wash on 

 the wing-lining, in typical specimens, too, there is no green on the 

 forehead or tail, both being grey, or there is a slight yellowish 

 tinge on the forehead only. But, as already pointed out, many 

 birds, especially in Northern India, are intermediate in coloration 

 between this and the preceding species. 



Distribution. Throughout the Peninsula of India and Ceylon. 

 To the northward this species extends through Eastern Itajputana, 

 the Eastern Punjab, theJNT.W. Provinces, and Oudh, to the base of 

 the Himalayas, but is not found in Sind (a reported occurrence at 

 Jacobabad is open to doubt) nor the desert region generally. The 

 measurements and habits are identical with those of 



Genus OSMOTRERON, Bonap., 1854. 



The Green Pigeons belonging to the present genus scarcely differ 

 from Crocopus, except in having the sexes conspicuously distinct 

 in coloration, and the first three primaries much less attenuated. 



The habits of all these Pigeons closely resemble those of Crocopus. 

 They are found in Hocks, are fruit-eaters, and always perch on 

 trees, rarely if ever descending to the ground. They have a 

 peculiar, rather melodious whistle. Their flight is rapid, and they 

 are generally wary birds, but when feeding on a favourite fruit 

 they are easily approached and shot. The breeding habits, eggs, 

 and nests are identical with those of other Green Pigeons. 



The genus is found in a great part of the Oriental region and in 

 some of the Austro-Malayan islands. Seven species out of the 17 

 known have been obtained within Indian limits. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Middle tail-feathers green ; mantle of males 



maroon. 



a'. Tibial plumes buff or yellowish ; head 

 and neck of male green or grey, not red. 

 a". Lower tail-coverts cinnamon or whitish. 

 a 3 . Forehead and crown grey. 



# 4 . Grey nape distinct from green hind 



neck ........................ O. phayrei, p. 8. 



ft 4 . Grey of crown passing into green 



on the nape .................. O. affinis, p. 8. 



ft 3 . Forehead yellow .................. O. pompadora, p. 9. 



b" . Lower tail-coverts dark green, with 



yellowish tips .................... O. chloroptera, p. 10. 



b'. Tibial plumes bright yellow ; head and 



neck of male cinnamon-red .......... O. fuloicoliis, p. 10. 



b. Middle tail-feathers slaty grey ; mantle not 



maroon in either sex. 

 c 1 . Outer tail-feathers with a grey tip exceed- 



ing 0-5 in length .................... O. hicincta, p. 11. 



d' . Outer tail-feathers with a narrow grey tip. O. vernans, p. 13. 



