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Mr. Pelham T. D. Dodsworth,



obscure points in regard to the habits of wild birds by observing

the behaviour of their brethren in captivity, the following par¬

ticulars about a pair of Kokla Green Pigeons (Sphenocercus

sphenurus )—a very closely allied species to the birds mentioned

in Mr. Dewai’s article—which were taken from a nest when quite

young, and reared by hand, may, perhaps, be of some interest

to readers of this Magazine.


Before entering into details, I will preface my notes with a

few general remarks on the habits, distribution, etc., of this

species. The Kokla or Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon is a common

summer visitant to the North-West Himalayas, south of the first

snowy ranges, arriving from Nepal and farther eastwards about

the last week in April, or the beginning of May, to breed, and

then returning to their old haunts about September, or as autumn

sets in. During their summer sojourn in these mountains, they

are generally to be found along the outer ranges, at elevations of

4,000—7,000 feet, but are most common at about 5,000 feet. They

principally affect well-wooded and shady dales, hill-sides, valleys,

and glens, and are not so gregarious as the Green Pigeons

mentioned by Mr. Dewar, which are to be found in large flocks,

sometimes numbering as many as thirty to forty individuals, and

even more. Our birds are to be seen either singly or in pairs, or

in small parties of three or four. They are strictly arboreal, and

are exclusively frugivorous. They are very partial to the ripe

berries of the Kctiphul {Myrica sapinda). “When hunting for fruit,

they are continually gliding about the branches, like squirrels ;

and, from their strong feet, they can hang over to seize a fruit,

and recover their position at once by the strong muscles of their

legs. When perfectly quiet they are very difficult to observe, from

the similarity of their tints to that of leaves.” They are heavy

feeders, and generally seek their meals early in the mornings and

late in the afternoons. To avoid the heat, they retire during the

middle of the day to some shady trees, where, hidden amongst

the foliage, they sit motionless, and spend the time dozing;

occasionally one wakes up and utters its soft, plaintive whistle,

and it is by these alone that the birds betray their presence.

Their flight is rapid and strong. I11 their nesting habits they are

more or less similar to those of the other Green Pigeons found in



