31 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 



PlgeOIlS, (Treron, Crocopus, Osmotreron, Sphenocercus, Carpopliaga, 

 Alsoccmus, Palumbus, Palumbana, Columba). There areseveral well-mark- 

 ed groups of pigeons. The green pigeons (Treron, Crocopus, Osmotreron^ 

 Sphenocercus) are forest-loving, fruit-eating birds, partly gregarious, and 

 wandering a good deal during the winter, though all are permanent 

 residents of the Indo-Malayan region, and the species that occur in India 

 breed there too. The imperial pigeons (Carpophaaa) are similar in their 

 habits, but even more confined to dense forests. The wood pigeons 

 (Ahocomus, Palumbus) are more migratory, more shy, and with one 

 exception confined to mountain ranges. The stock pigeon (Palumbcena) 

 is strictly migratory, visiting India in the cold weather only, in vast 

 flocks. The true pigeons (Columba) are gregarious, and are probably per- 

 manent residents where they occur, but this has only been ascertained in 

 the case of the common blue pigeon (C. intermedia). All pigeons lay 

 either one or two pure white eggs on a small rough platform of sticks. 



Doves, (Macropygia, Turtur, Chalcophaps). Are less gregarious 

 than pigeons. They all breed in India. Only one, Sykes' turtle dove 

 (T. meena), appears to wander much from its breeding place. They feed 

 almost entirely on the ground, and are very widespread in this country. 

 They lay two pure white eggs on a tiny platform of sticks. 



SandgrOUSe, (Pterocles, Syrrhaptes). Are usually only cold 

 weather visitants to this country. They associate in large flocks, and 

 frequent dry, open, or cultivated plains. The painted sandgrouse (P- 

 fasciatus) affects rocky ground, and the Thibetan sandgrouse (Syrrhap- 

 tes tibetanus) is only found in the Himalayas at great elevations. Two 

 only of the sandgrouse, the common and the painted, are known to breed 

 with any regularity in this country. Their eggs are richly coloured and 

 blotched. In shape they are elongated and cylindrical. The eggs of a 

 third kind P. lichtensteini have lately been taken in Sind. 



Pheasants, (Paw, Polyplectron, lophophorus, Ceriornis, Euplo- 

 camusj Ithaginis, Pucrasia, PJiasianus, Gallophasis) . With the exception 

 of the peacock (Pavo cristatus), which is found iu wooded tracts 

 throughout India, the Phasianidce are confined to the Himalayas. 

 They are found at all elevations, but only in forest country, with dense 

 undergrowth. They are all permanent residents, breeding on the 

 mountains, and descending into the valleys in the winter to feed. The 

 eggs of many of them are boldly blotched, while others approach closely 

 to the eggs of domestic fowls. 



