364 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIIL 



No. XIX.— NOTES ON DOVES IN THE PUNJAB. 



Indian Red Tue,tlb-Dove (Ornopopelia t, tranquebaricd) . 



This species appears to arrive in the Miiltan and Lyallpur districts about 

 the end of March and to commence breeding operations during the first 

 half of April. In Multan it is found in large numbers wherever there are 

 plenty of trees but I have also found them in scrub jungle where there are 

 only Jand and Jal bushes. It is an extremely difficult matter to reduce 

 bird notes to writing so as to be distinguishable but besides the " sustained 

 purring coo," referred to by Mr. Whistler this bird has another verjr 

 distinctive note which can best be described as Ooo-o-o-o repeated ad lib. 

 The note is very deep and hoarse with the accent on the first syllable, the 

 last three being very short and following rapidly on one another. Some birds 

 have a bunch deeper note than others; but whether this is only the difference 

 between the note of the male and female bird I am unable to say. As 

 regards their departure, I have no information whatever as for the last ten 

 years I have never returned to the plains till the beginning of October when 

 I have always found that they have gone. 



Indian Turtlb-Dove {Streptopelia turtur ferrago) . 



So far I have never observed this bird in either the Lyallpur or Multan 

 districts. It would appear, keep further north so as to avoid the desert 

 tracts being a bird of thick forests. 



Spotted Dove {Stveptopeiia s. suratensis). 



Probably avoids the above districts, also in its migrations, as, so far, I have 

 never observed it. Common about 5,000 feet in Dalhousie. 



Eastern Stock Pigeon {Columba oenas, evevsmanni). 



I have observed this species both in the Lyallpur and Multan districts in 

 small numbers all through the cold weather during some years, but as a rule 

 it does not appear till February when it occurs in large flocks up to the 

 beginning of April. In Multan I have only found it in the vicinity of the 

 Chenab River and in Lyallpur near the big canal escapes. 



Treronince. 



I have only once come across green pigeons in Lyallpur, but as I had no 

 gun with me I was unable to identify the species. I have never observed 

 them in Multan. 



Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon [Sjjhenocerctcs sp>henuriis). 



Common in Dalhousie, Murree and the Galis, but so far I have not 

 observed it in the plains. 



Quetta, 3rd August 1914. 



J. LINDSAY SMITH, 



Major, m.b.o.u.i.a. 



No. XX.— SHOVELLER IN THE N. W. F. P. IN AUGUST. 



I think the following unusual incident will interest you : A brother 

 Officer and I were out after teal on Thursday last, (27th instant), and we 



