GREEN PIGEONS. 365 



very similar. The males are not difficult to identify, but the females often resemble 

 one another very closely. Writing of & sphenurus, Mr. Gates says that it is found 

 in the thick forest country of Burma, frequenting trees which bear fruit, and going 

 about in flocks. It is a summer visitor to the Himalaya, and breeds from April to 

 July, constructing a nest of twigs on the outer branches of trees. In October it 

 collects in small flocks of six or eight, and quits the country. It is rather 

 shy, and its note is a soft, cooing whistle ; its food consisting entirely of small fruits, 

 which are swallowed whole. 



ABYSSINIAN WALIA-PIGEON. 



Other Genera, 



The African genus Vinago has the tail-feathers almost even, 

 the outer pair being little shorter than the middle, and the feathers 

 on the legs conspicuously yellow, while the forehead in some species is more or less 

 naked The Abyssinian walia ( V. walia) is met with in the subtropical belt, and 

 rarely seen on the highlands, being first observed at an elevation of about two 

 thousand feet, and not extending above six thousand. Its call is a liquid whistle, 

 very similar to that of the Indian green pigeon in tone, but with the concluding 

 portion a little harsher and more prolonged. It feeds on fruits, especially figs, 

 and, like its allies, is delicious eating. A third genus (Crocopus) inhabiting the 

 Indo-Chinese countries resembles Vinago in having the feathers on the legs 

 yellow, but is distinguished by the first three flight-feathers being pointed The 



