GREEN PIGEONS. 



365 



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

 one another very closely. Writing of S. sphenurus, Mr. Oates 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. 



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

 other Genera. ... . t i 



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 



