THE CAGE-BIRDS OF CALCUTTA, 577 



Of the Fruit-Pjgeons, the " Hurrial " ( Crocopis phcenicopterus) is generally 

 for sale in the Bazaar, and, more rarely, one may meet with the " Kokla " 

 {Sphenocercus sphenurus), which, although much esteemed in some parts, is 

 apparently not often kept in Calcutta. Osmotreron hicincta is commoner. 

 Carpopliaga anea and Myristicivora luctuosa are sometimes imported in 

 considerable numbers, but cannot be called abundant. On a few occasions 

 recently Mr. Rutledge has procured the lovely Ptilopus jamlu, and I once 

 saw a splendid Butreron capellii in his possession. Fruit-Pigeons are quite 

 easy to keep, as they live well on any soft vegetable food, such as sa^oo-paste 

 or boiled rice, and I wonder that the home dealers do not take more trouble 

 lo introduce these most exquisitely coloured birds. 



Of foreign Pigeons, the most frequently imported are Ocyphaps hpJiotes and 

 Phlogcenas luzonica, not to mention the great Ground-Pigeon alluded to above. 

 Other species occasionally occur, such as Leucosarcia picata, Phaps chal- 

 coptera, and Geopelia cuneaia, while a short time ago a good many Turtur 

 chmensis and T. biiorquatus were imported, especially the latter, which proved 

 quite a drug in the market. Before leaving the Pigeons, I ought to record 

 the curious fact that the Alpine Columba leuconota, which Mr. Rutledge 

 sometimes obtains, bears the heat perfectly well, and even shows a desire 

 to breed. As its note has apparently not beea recorded, I may mention that 

 it is not a coo, but a repeated croak, not unlike a hiccough, and, much as the 

 bird resembles the domestic Pigeon, I have never seen it sweep the ground 

 with its tail when courting, but rather raise it. 



GALLIN2E. 



The Phasianidce are usually regarded in the light of aviary birds, but 

 as one of them is among the commonest species kept in confinement here, 

 the family demands some notice. 



Family Phasianid^. 



The Grey Partridge {Francoliniis pondicerianus') is very widely kept for 

 fighting, and in consequence is one of the birds most commonly seen in 

 cages. Those used are small, with the interstices of the pyramidal top tilled 

 in many cases with string netting, to avoid injury to the bird's head. 

 These Partridges, howerer, become so tame that they can be let out for 

 a run, and I have seen one following its owner over the grass like a 

 little dog. 



The Common and Sain-Quails (Coturnix communis and C. coromandelica) 

 are also occasionally kept in cages for fighting. The Pheasants, which are 

 brought down from the hills for exportation, hardly come within the scope 

 of the present paper, but it may perhaps be allowable to mention a few birds 

 of this family which have long been imported for ornamental purposes, 

 although they cannot be called cage-birds. These are the Java Peacock 

 {Pavo muticus) and the white and pied forma of the common P. cristatus, 

 together with the "Japan Peacock'' (P. we^n^erjwis). Mr. Rutledge tells me 

 that this form really does occur in Japan to his positive knowledge (no 

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