DENDROTREROX. 33 



another well-known African bird, Columba guinea, may perha.ps 

 be referred to the same genus, though it differs in some characters. 



The genus Dendrotreron has a longer tail, a shorter and more 

 feathered tarsus, and broader soles than true Columba, and thus 

 resembles the Tree-Pigeons. The plumage is very different from 

 the latter ; there is no metallic gloss on any part of the plumage, 

 the neck-feathers are acuminate, and the neck-patches and tail- 

 bands of Paluinbus are wanting. 



The members of the present genus are not fruit-eaters like 

 Alsocomus, but live on berries and seeds. The African bird makes 

 a nest on trees in mountain ravines and is said to lay two eggs. 



1297. Dendrotreron hodgsoni. The Speckled Wood-Pigeon. 



Columba hodgsonii, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 16 ; Blyth, J. A. S. B. 



xiv, p. 867 ; Salvador}, Cat. B. M. xxi, p. 274. 

 Columba nipalensi^, Hodgson, J. A. 8. B. v, p. 122 (1836). 

 Deudrotreron hodgsoni, Hodys. in Gray's Zool. Mine. p. 85; Hume, 



N. $ E. p. 497. 

 Alsocomus hodo-sonii, Blylh, Cat. p. 2-33 ; Irby, Ibis, 1861, p. 233 ; 



Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 463; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. 2, 



p. 65 ; Blanford, J. A. S. B. xli, pt, 2, p. 70 ; Hume, Cat. no. 783 ; 



Scully, S. F. viii, p. 339 ; Biddulph, Ibis, 1881, p. 91 ; Scully, ibid. 



p. 583 ; Oates in Humes N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 346. 



Coloration. Male. Head and upper neck all round ashy grey ; 

 feathers of lower neck lanceolate, the edges and tips grey, the 

 basal and middle parts of each feather blackish ; the grey edges 

 gradually disappearing., and the colour of the feathers passing on 

 the base of the hind neck into the claret-red of the upper back 

 and of most of the smaller wing-coverts, the red passing again 

 into dark grey on the middle and greater coverts, the middle 

 coverts speckled with white ; quills, primary-coverts, and scapulars 

 dark brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts dark leaden grey ; tail 

 blackish brown : on the lower parts the grey of the neck is also 

 gradually replaced by claret, which appears first on the upper 

 breast in the middle of each feather, then gradually overspreads 

 the lower breast and part of the abdomen ; lower abdomen, lower 

 tail-coverts, and wing-lining deep slaty grey. 



In the female the grey of the head is brownish and the red of 

 the back and breast much browner and duller. Size rather 

 smaller. 



Bill purplish black; irides hoary; orbital space livid ; legs and 

 feet blackish green in front, yellow behind ; claws pale yellow 

 (Jet'don). 



Length about 15 ; tail 5-75 ; wing 9'25 ; tarsus '9 ; bill from 

 gape 1. 



Distribution. Throughout the Himalayas from Kashmir to 

 Moupin in Eastern Tibet at considerable elevations, from 10,000 

 to 13,000 feet in summer, but at a lower level (6000-9000) in 

 winter. 



VOL. IV. D 



