CHAP. XXIV.] THE NICOBAR PIGEON. 65 



succeeded iu finding and shooting the beautiful Nicobar 

 pigeon, of which I had been so long in search. None 

 of the residents had ever seen it, which shows that it is 

 rare and shy. My specimen was a female in beautiful 

 condition, and the glossy coppery and green of its plumage, 

 the snow-white tail and beautiful pendent feathers of the 

 neck, were greatly admired. I- subsequently obtained a 

 specimen in New Guinea, and- once saw it in the Kaioa 

 islands. It is found also in some small islands near 

 Macassar, in others near Borneo, and in the Mcobar 

 islands, whence it receives its name. It is a ground 

 feeder, only going upon trees to roost, and is a very 

 heavy fleshy bird. This may account for the fact of its 

 being found chiefly on very small islands, while in the 

 western half of the Archipelago, it seems entirely absent 

 from the larger ones. Being a ground feeder it is subject 

 to the attacks of carnivorous cLuadi-upeds, \\>^hich are not 

 found in the very small islands. Its wide distribution over 

 the whole length of the Archipelago, from extreme west to 

 east, is however very extraordinary, since, with the excep- 

 tion of a few of the birds of prey, not a single land bird 

 has so wide a range. Ground-feeding birds are generally 

 deficient in power of extended flight, and this species is so 

 bidky and heavy that it appears at first sight quite unable 

 to fly a mile. A closer examination shows, however, that 

 its wings are remarkably large, perhaps in proportion to 



VOL. II. F 



