COLUMBiE. 31 



along with other pigeons ; the nest is flat, and formed merely 

 of a few loose sticks, and the only one we have seen was 

 placed in a low thick tree ; the young ones, though still blind, 

 were penned — they are said to be fledged very rapidly ; the 

 eggs are white : the note is very much like that of our com- 

 mon Wood-pigeon. 



Sub-fam. Columbine. 

 Gen. Carpophaga. 



CarpopTiaga luctuosa. 

 Coluraba luctuosa (Temm.). 

 Rawa Rawa (Malay name). 



General colour, cream-colour ; ring round the eyes black ; pri- 

 mary and secondary quills, slaty black ; tail, basal part, the same 

 colour as the body, but below having a rich yellow tinge ; the end 

 part is black ; the cream-colour extending about half way up the 

 centre feathers, and encroaching farther up each succeeding lateral 

 pair, to the outer ones, where it reaches nearly to the tip, thus 

 forming a fork across the tail ; on the two outer pairs, however, the 

 outer edges are black, which colour here encroaches on the basal 

 half j the feathers in various parts of the body have faint black 

 markings. 



Length, 15 inches. 



„ of bill from gape, 1 inch 1 line. 



„ of bill from front, 1 inch. 



„ of wings, 8 inches 9 lines, 



„ of tail, 3 inches 10 lines. 



„ of tarsus, 1 inch. 



„ of middle toe, 1 inch 9 lines. 



„ of hallux, 1 inch. 



A common species ; they feed upon fruit, and especially 

 the various species of ficus, which are the favourite food of all 

 the Labuan pigeons ; upon this diet they become very fat, 

 and their flesh, though rather hard, is well flavoured, and is 

 particularly esteemed for making curry. They build their 

 nests in high trees, and are said to be easily tamed if caught 

 young ; their voice resembles the cooing of a tame pigeon, 

 but is rather more guttural ; the Malay name is given on ac- 

 count of their colour, "Rawa Kawa"" being the name of a 

 sort of cream-coloured woollen cloth, which is made in China, 

 and fetches a high price in Borneo. 



