52 COLUMBIDJE. 



Genus GEOPELIA, Swainson, 1837. 



A very small Teiiasserim dove, with part of the plumage closely 

 banded, belongs io a genus containing five species, and ranging 

 from Burma to Australia. All the species are small, with a 

 slender bill, having the apical hcrny portion short and convex ; 

 the wings are short and rounded, the 1st quill greatly attenuated 

 near the tip, 2nd and 3rd quills longest. The tail, of 14 feathers, 

 exceeds the wing in length and is much graduated. The tarsus is 

 naked, and, in G. striata, is longer than the mid toe. Sexes 

 alike. 



Fig. 0. Primaries of G. striata. \. 



1315. Geopelia striata. The Barred Ground-Dove. 



Columba striata, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 282 (1766). 



Geopelia striata, Blyth, Cat. p. 235 ; Hume, 8. F. iii, p. 323 : Hume 



fy Dav. S. F. vi, p. 423 ; Hume, Cat. no. 797 ter ; Gates, B. B. ii, 



p. 298 j Sahadori, Cat. B. M. xxi, p. 458. 



Coloration. Anterior half of crown, cheeks, chin, and throat 

 ashy grey ; occiput and nape light reddish brown ; hind neck, 

 sides of neck and of breast, and flanks closely barred black and 

 white ; back, wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts light 

 brown, each feather with a terminal black bar ; quills darker brown, 

 the inner webs chestnut towards the base ; middle tail-feathers 

 brown, the others blackish brown, the four outer pairs with long 

 white tips ; middle of breast pale vinous, passing into white on 

 the abdomen ; lower tail-coverts white ; wing-lining chestnut, finely 

 barred with black. 



In the young the whole plumnge is barred above and below. 



Bill bluish white; irides generally white, occasionally grey-brown 

 or pale slaty blue ; orbital skin pale clear blue, tinged with green; 

 legs and feet pink, claws dirty greenish blue (Davison). 



Length about 9 ; tail 4'3 ; wing 4 ; tarsus '75 ; bill from gape ! 7. 



Distribution. The Malay Peninsula and Archipelago to the 

 Philippines and Celebes. This Dove ranges into the extreme 

 south of Tenasserim, where it was found by Davison about the 

 higher parts of the Pakchan. 



Habits. Very similar to those of Turtur. This little Dove is 

 found singly or in pairs about cultivation, and keeps much to the 

 ground, feeding on seeds. Its note is quite peculiar. 



