424 AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUR. 



COLUMBIML 



200.— Carpophaga aenea, Lin. C. sylvatica, 



Tickell. (780.) 



The Imperial Pigeon occurs very locally in Chota Nagpur. 

 I have met with a few pairs in the valleys intervening between 

 the hills which separate Manbhum and Singhbhum, and in 

 their continuation in the elephant forest in the north-west 

 corner of Midnapore. I have also heard its deep sonorous 

 coo in the forest on Parisnath hill. It may be thus represented 

 wuh — -wooh. There is something- almost weird about this sound 

 when heard resounding through the valleys. 



Colonel Tickell first described it as sylvatica, a distinct spe- 

 cies, from specimens obtained in Singhbhum. Captain Beavan 

 obtained it in Manbhum. Besides the localities I have men- 

 tioned I have shot it in the Rajmehal hills and the Andaman 

 islands. I know of two or three groves in the Rajmehal hills 

 where it might be regarded as a certain find. 



In Sirguja and the highlands of Western Chota Nagpur 

 I have not met with it. This supports Dr. Jerdon's opinion 

 that it does not occur at as high an elevation as 2,000 feet. 



Some of the specimens which I shot in the Rajmehal hills 

 (19th December) had been feeding on the berries of the Bella 

 {Semecarpus anacardium). I was much struck with the enor- 

 mous extensibility of the lower mandible in this bird. This is 

 of course to enable it to swallow the large fruits upon which it 

 subsists. The description quoted by Dr. Jerdon from the 

 Bengal Sporting Review of its conduct when captured, I found 

 to be very accurate. It erects its feathers, which gives it the 

 appearance of being double its natural size, and strikes out 

 violently with its wings. 



201.— Alsocomus puniceus, Tickell. (782.) 



The Purple Wood Pigeon was first observed by Colonel Tickell 

 in small parties of four or five along the banks of rivers shaded 

 by large forest trees in Singhbhum. 



It was obtained in Manbhum by Beavan in 1864, on the banks 

 of the Cossye near Ambeekanuggur. While walking up the 

 beds of the Mahan river and its tributaries in Sirguja I have on 

 two or three occasions startled this bird in just such localities 

 as Colonel Tickell describes ; but found it very shy, and never 

 succeeded in obtaining a specimen. 



