THE PIGEONS. 179 



The hen is very similar, but can easily be distinguished, 

 having the brown parts of the plumage less rich in 

 colour, no grey cap, and the forehead and eyebrows grey 

 instead of white. 



The young are very different from either, being mostly 

 dull brown above, barred with cinnamon, and with dusky 

 below ; but their characteristic shape, with this marking? 

 will distinguish them. In length the bird measures only 

 a little over ten inches, but is stout for its size, and about 

 as big in body as the Spotted Dove. 



It has a very wide range, from Mussoorie east through 

 Burma and the Malay Islands to New Guinea, but is 

 decidedly local in India itself, being found only in the 

 lower Himalayas, Bengal, the forests near the Malabar 

 Coast, and those between the Ganges and the Maha- 

 nuddy. It likewise inhabits the Andamans and Nico- 

 bars, and Ceylon, where it is called Nila Kobeya. It is 

 a jungle bird, but sometimes comes into gardens. 



I have only seen it wild in Dehra Dun, a,nd have noticed 

 there what authors have recorded of it its solitary habits 

 and low swift flight. It has a soft, long, plaintive 

 note, said to be very soothing to one ruffled in his temper. 

 Unfortunately the bird's own temper, as might be infer- 

 red from its unsociable ways, is anything but good, and 

 in captivity it is given to bullying other Doves. For a 

 good-sized aviary, however, it is a very nice bird. As it 

 is a ground-dweller and active on its feet, its beautiful 

 colours are well displayed, and the difference of the sexes 

 is another recommendation. In the wild state it breeds 

 during the first half of the year, and is thought to have 



