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Some Birds of the Philippine Islands.



metallic green of neck, etc., is continned in a distinct band across the

breast, only slightly interrupted at centre of breast and enclosing a

beautiful orange plastron formed by the bristle-like tips of the

feathers of the fore breast ; underparts, creamy white and buff.


This Bleeding-heart Dove is extremely rare and difficult to


obtain.


* * *


P. platence. MINDORO PUNALADA. Head and neck dark

metallic green, changing to amethystine ; scapulars, back, and rump

chestnut, with edgings of green ; below white to buff ; finely

speckled with grey on sides of breast ; red crop-patch very small,

etc., etc.


Common in the old forests in the interior of Mindoro, but

very difficult to shoot. Its nest has been found in a tangle of vines

about eight feet from the ground. The female flew from the nest,

pretending to be lame.


* * *


Calcenas ricoharica. NICOBAR PIGEON. This curious pigeon

with its short white tail and long neck-plumes, etc., of bright metallic

green, blue and red-bronze, is well known in Europe, although some¬

what rarely imported.


It is rare in all the Philippine Islands except Tawi Tawi,

where it is very common, and is invariably found in deep woods. It

rises very heavily and with much noise, always alighting in low


trees, and then flying from tree to tree if disturbed.


*


Macropygia tenuirostris. Slender-billed Cuckoo Dove.

Head, sides of neck, breast and lower parts cinnamon-rufous ; above,

including wings and tail dark brown ; most of the feathers edged

with fine rufous dots ; neck feathers covered with irregular vermicu-

lations of rufous and blackish brown. A few black cross lines on

sides of neck and crop, the neck being glossed with amethystine and

green, the metallic colours extending faintly on to the back and

rump.


Exceedingly common in some localities ; for example, among

the mountains of North Luzon, nesting where the large tracts of

dead bracken afford it good protection. It is also plentiful in the

lowland forests.



