COLUMBID.E. 299 



ones) and the tertials nearly the same, but a shade 

 darker and with a slight brownish tinge ; the rump 

 and tail- co verts the same as the head, if anything a 

 little lighter ; the tail-feathers are black at the tip, 

 in the centre is a broadish band of light bluish grey, 

 and the base is dark bluish grey ; the outer wing- 

 coverts, both greater and lesser, are white, and those 

 next inside are white on the outer web only this 

 makes a conspicuous white patch on the wing ; the 

 bastard wing is black ; the p%mary quills nearly 

 black, but with a streak of white on the outer web, 

 broadest towards the base ; on each side of the neck 

 is a conspicuous white patch this patch is sur- 

 rounded by feathers reflecting a metallic gloss of 

 purple and green ; chin and throat bluish grey, like 

 the head; the breast is purplish pink: belly and 

 thighs nearly white, but being tinged with the same 

 colour as the breast it gives them a dirty appearance ; 

 flanks and under tail-coverts nearly the same as the 

 upper tail-coverts, but slightly lighter; the legs and 

 toes red ; claws brown. The female is the same as 

 the male. The young birds in their first plumage 

 may be distinguished from the old ones, as they want 

 'the white patches on the side of the neck. Varieties 

 occasionally occur, mostly spotted over the body 

 with white, but such, or any varieties, appear to be 

 very unusual; not one has ever come under my own 

 observation. 



