THE BIRDS OF GILGIT. 357 



185.— Columba intermedia, StricM. (788). 



In November the Pigeons begin to collect in flocks, which 

 increase in size as the winter goes on. 



At first they are mostly composed of C. intermedia, with a 

 single specimen of G. rupestris in the flock. Gradually C. ru- 

 pestris gets commoner, and a few specimens of C. livia appear. 

 When the corn is sown the Pigeons collect in great flocks of 

 several hundreds, and settle on the newly sown fields till it seems 

 as if not a single grain would be left. 



Till the end of April they appear at intervals whenever 

 heavy weather in the mountains drives them in. In the 

 beginning of May they pair ; and a large number of them 

 leave the main valley in the summer for the higher elevations. 



The specimens of G. intermedia killed in summer show the 

 ashy grey rump, tending in some almost to white, but never so 

 marked as in C. livia. 



186.— Columba livia, Bp. (788 bis). 



A few specimens seen both in summer and winter. 



187.— Columba rupestris, Tall. (789). 



C. rupestris never appears in large numbers ; and 1 have 

 never seen a flock of this species which had not specimens of 

 one or the other before mentioned Pigeons with it. 



It has a conspicuous white shoulder patch in winter plumage, 

 which is not mentioned by Jerdon. Wing, 9 inches ; tarsus, 1| ; 

 bill at gape, f . 



188.— Columba leuconota, Vig. (790). 



Not very common. Never seen below 10,000 feet. The 

 whole head and neck are ashy black, not the top of the bead 

 and ear-coverts only, as described by Jerdon. The under parts 

 are white, shading into ashy on the abdomen and under tail- 

 coverts. 



189.— Turturrupicola, Tall (792). 



A summer visitor ; appears about 1st May. 



190.— Turtur aurita, G. R. Or. (792 Us). 



Appears about the same time as T. rupicole. 

 S, Length, 12 inches; wing, 7*1 ; tail, 49; tarsus, 0'85. 

 P. Length, 11-4 inches ; wing, 675 ; tail, 4-7 ; tarsus, 0'80. 

 lrides, orange ; feet and legs, lake-red. 



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