721 

 NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 



BY 



H. Stevens, m. b. o. u. 

 Part III with Plate iv. 



359. Crocopus phcenicoptera flimnicoptera (Lath.) [12711.— Beno-al Green 



Pigeon. *= 



Occurs sparingly in the Dibrugarh district. No records for North 

 Lakhimpur. Specimens secured aroimd Eungagora in December, January 

 April, June The plumage of this family is a beautiful example of har- 

 monious blending of diverse colours and an excellent case of protective 

 coloration. 



360. TreronpJiyarei phayrei (Blyth.) [1273].— Ashy-headed Green Pigeon 



Osmotreron phayrei, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iv., p. 8. 

 Osmotreron pompadora phayrei, Baker, Indian Pigeons,'p. 27. 



Very plentiful in the plains ; the common Green Pigeon around Eunga- 

 gora, specimens collected in August, October, December, January. Green 

 Pigeon after the nesting season " flight " in considerable numbers to and 

 from their favourite trees when the berries are ripe. The local sportsmen 

 amongst the planting community take advantage of this habit and take up 

 positions m the open spaces they are wont to pass over particularly at 

 late afternoon and evening ; as they fly with great rapidity and dip when 

 leaving and rise when approaching the forest, they afford excellent shoot- 

 ing. Before sunset they delight in roosting amongst the foliage of the 

 topmost branches. So well does their plumage assimilate with their 

 surroundings, it is only with the greatest difficulty they can be located. 

 It IS a pleasing sight to hear and see these birds when feeding as they 

 hustle each other for the possession of the coveted berries. 



Iris blue, outer ring pale red or pink ; orbital skin plumbeous ; bill light 

 blue, at base dark ; tarsus pinkish-red ; claws horny. 



361. Treron bicincta bicincta (Jerdon.) [1278].— The Orange-breasted Green 



Pigeon. 



Osmotreron bicincta domvillii, Baker, Indian Pigeons, p. 49. 

 Sparingly distributed in the plains, plentiful at the base of the hills in 

 North Lakhimpur. Specimens collected at Eungagora in June. Dejoo. 

 June and July ; North Lakhimpur, April. It has a pleasing low subdued 

 gurgling note. In first week in June numbers would come at morning and 

 evening to a Seleng tree {Sapium baccatum) SiAjsLcent to bungalow. Iris 

 blue, outer ring pink ; bill pale blue ; tarsus deep reddish-mauve : claws 

 dark horny blue. 



362. Treron nipalen&is (Hodgs.) [1281].— Thick Billed Green Pigeon. 

 Occurs at the base of the hills in North Lakhimpur. No records for the 



Dibrugarh district in the plains. North Lakhimpur, June ; Joyhing, May. 

 Ins pink with an inner ring bluish-brown ; orbital skin pea-green or emerald 

 green ; bill : basal half dark coral red or waxy red, rest of bill pale horny 

 green or greenish-yellow; tarsus, coral red, or lake red; claws horny with 

 dark markings. 



363. Sphenocercus apicauda (Blyth.) [1282J. —Pin-tailed Green Pigeon. 



Sphenocerus apicicauda, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iv., p. 16. 

 Plentiful at the base of the hills in North Lakhimpur and commonly 

 occurs.'m the plains during the cold season. Specimens secured at Eunsao^ora 

 17 



