The Andamans and Nicohars. — V> Ball. 81 



100— (798 5is).— Chalcophaps augusta, JBonap. 



Nicohars.— Blt)th, J. A. S. B., XV, p. 371 ; Mouat's App., p. 362 ; 

 Ihis, N. S., ir, p. 133. 



Mr. BlytH saySj— " differs from the Indian race in the deeper 

 ash-colour of the nape, and bluer vinaceous hue of the under 

 partSj while the bands on the rump (so conspicuo^^s in the Indian 

 birdj and also in its near ally, 6*^. ch'T/sochlora), are very in- 

 distinct.^^ Again, — "the Nicobarian race differs from CJi. Indicus, 

 and accords with the description of Ch. augtista in Pr. Bonap/^ 



Although I saw this bird when in the Nicobars, I did not 

 succeed in obtaining a specimen. Those described by Blyth 

 above are not now in a fit condition for comparison, having 

 suffered much from the ravages of time and neglect. 



101— (798 if^r).— Calcenas Nicobarica, L. 



Hicnhars. — Blytli,J. A. S.B., XV,p. 371 ; Pelzeln, Reise der Novara, 



Vogel, p. 107 ; Ball, J. A. S. £., XXXIX, Ft. II, lS70,p. 32. 

 Cocos. — Blyth, Mouat's App., p. 362. 



Mr. Blyth received specimens of this bird said to have been pro- 

 cured in the Cocos islands, and concluded that it might be looked 

 for with a fair prospect of success in the Andamans, which inter- 

 vene between them and the Nicobars. No instance, however, 

 has come to notice of its having been found in the Andamans, 

 and I am strongly inclined to believe that its occurrence any- 

 where north of the Nicobar Group must be extremely excep- 

 tional. Mr. Wallace (Malayan Archipelago, 1st £d., Pt. II, 

 pp. 66-66,) has shown that, though generally considered to be 

 a bad flier, it is when migrating capable of long flight, even 

 for an unbroken 100 miles; and the specimens found in the 

 Cocos may have been stragglers. But it is undoubtedly a bird 

 which belongs to the Malayan portion of the avifauna of the 

 Nicobars, and which does not normally extend up to the 

 Andamans. ' 



The following is a description of this most beautiful of 

 pigeons : — 



Above. — -Dark-green, with a bluish coppery lustre. Below. — 

 Golden-green with the feathers tipped blue. Head dark blue- 

 black, elongated hackle-like feathers of the neck purplish -black 

 above, passing into others concolorous with the back below. 

 Quills black, margined with dark- blue. Tail in the adult white ; 

 under tail coverts also white. Bill black. 



Measurements ( inches ) of one in the Indian Museum : — Wing 

 10*5 : tail 3'5 : bill at front 1* : tarsus 1*6. 



