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784 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.. 



recently described and by four of Blanford's species being divided into twO' 

 subspecies each. It may also be remarked that thirteen of Blanford's 

 full species have only been given subspecific rank by Mr. Stuart Baker. 



The principal stronghold of the diflferent kinds of green pigeons being, 

 in Assam, where Mr. Stuart Baker was long stationed, he is able to give 

 us some excellent personal observations on habits and interesting 

 accounts of the sport he has had amongst these birds. In regard to the 

 latter he has been fortunate enough to take part in some big shoots at 

 two of which over four hundred birds were obtained by several guns on 

 one day shooting in the morning and evening. At these shoots it is 

 interesting to note that two-thirds of the birds shot were Ashy-headed 

 green pigeons, while the remainder included no less than ten other kinds 

 of pigeons and doves -shot by mistake. Though not generally shot, many 

 of the doves, as pointed out by the author, give quite good shooting, and 

 are not by any means to be despised as an addition to the pot when game 

 is scarce. 



As illustrating the tameness at times of some doves, Mr. Stuart Baker 

 gives an account of how a pair of Spotted Doves {Strpijtopelia suratensis), 

 which nested in the verandah of his bungalow, used to descend on to a, 

 table to pick up vegetable scraps. 



The Little Brown Dove, too, is a confiding bird, and often breeds in 

 verandahs and even inside bungalows, an instance being given of a pair 

 breeding in a dining room between a picture and the wall. 



Of some species there is still a good deal to be learned in regard to 

 different plumages, distribution and as to what parts of the country they 

 are resident and migratory in ; and it is to be hoped that members who 

 are in a position to add to our knowledge in anyway will do so and send 

 in notes to our Journal. The addition of a few avicultural notes at thei 

 end of the accounts of each species will, no doubt, be an incentive to many 

 who have the facilities and inclination to keep pigeons or doves as pets. 



There are twenty-seven coloured plates chiefly by H. Gronvold, but a 

 few by G. E. Lodge. As regards the illustration, the colours are beauti- 

 ful, but we cannot help feeling that the method of reproducing them has in, 

 some cases made the appearance of the bird a little flat. We do not 

 think the artist can have drawn such a flat-breasted bird as that given 

 on plate 3. In spite of these remarks, however, the plates, as a whole, are 

 excellent, and should be of the greatest assistance in identifying the 

 different species. 



The book is bound as a companion Volume to " Indian Ducks and their 

 Allies," and has one great advantage over that work, and that is that it is'. 

 much lighter to handle. 



We can strongly recommend " Indian Pigeons and Doves" to all mem- 

 bers interested in birds, and Mr. Stuart Baker is to be congratulated on 

 producing such an excellent book. A word of praise too is due tO' 

 Messrs. Witherby & Co. for the general get-up and printing of the- 

 Volume . 



N. B.. K. 



