CAIXEXA8. 25 



xxxix, pt. 2, p. 32 ; id. S. F. i, p. 81 ; Hume, S. F. ii, p. 271 ; Blyth, 

 Birds Burm. p. 147 ; Hume Sf Dan. S. F. vi, p. 425 ; Hume, Cat. 

 no. 798 bis ; Oates, B. B. ii, p. 299 ; id. in Humes N. $ E. 2nd ed. 

 ii, p. 365 ; Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxi, p. 615. 



Coloration. Head and neck dark slaty grey, most of the neck- 

 hackles the same, but the longest hackles and the upper plumage 

 generally rich metallic green, changing to coppery bronze; outer 

 wing-coverts and outer borders of quills steel-blue ; primary and 

 secondary quills, except on their outer upper borders, black ; tail 

 with longer upper and lower coverts white ; lower parts dark 

 metallic green, purplish on upper breast. 



Fig. 5. Head of C. nicobarica. . 



Young birds want the hackles, and the tail is bronzy green, 

 while the plumage generally is duller. 



Bill and fleshy base deep blackish grey ; irides deep brown : 

 feet pinkish lake to dull purplish lilac : claws yellow (Hume}. 



Length about 16; tail 3*5; wing 1O25 ; tarsus 1*7; bill from 

 gape 1'5. 



Distribution. The Malay Archipelago from the Nicobars to the 

 Solomon Islands. This bird apparently never visits the Continent ; 

 it abounds on the Nicobars and breeds in numbers on the island of 

 Batty Malve and perhaps on some of the other islands. It has 

 been sent from the Cocos north of the Andamans, and a single 

 individual was once seen by Davison near Aberdeen in South 

 Andaman. It is also said to visit the Mergui Archipelago. 



Habits, tyc. This grand Pigeon roosts and builds its nest on 

 trees, but feeds entirely on the ground on seeds. Its flight is 

 heavy ; it is a silent bird, but occasionally utters a hoarse croak. 

 It makes the usual nest, a platform of twigs on a tree, and lays a 

 single pure white egg, minutely pitted throughout, not glossy, and 

 measuring about 1'84 by 1'27. 



