CARPOPHAGINiE. 459 



for the information of these Pigeons resorting there,) pick up the 

 salt earth on the edge of the swamp, and of the various creeks and 

 back waters that intersect the ground. I visited this place to- 

 wards the end of May 1 849, when many of the Pigeons had gone, 

 as I was informed ; but even then saw considerable numbers flying 

 about and feeding on the buds of Aricennia, and then retiring a 

 short distance to some lofty trees to rest. Although the day was 

 unfavorable and rainy, I killed above a dozen of these fine 

 Pigeons, and several Natives who were there with guns for 

 the purpose of shooting them, assured me that they often killed 

 from one to two dozens daily, simply remaining in one spot. 

 Had I not secured the birds myself in this locality, I confess I 

 would barely have credited the account I received of these 

 mountain residents descending to the plains during the hottest 

 season of the year. I presume that these Pigeons breed after 

 their return to the hills, but I have no information on this 

 head. It would be interesting to know if the Himalayan birds 

 likewise visited the neighourhood of the sea, and I am inclined to 

 think it probable that they may do so ; for, towards the end of May, 

 I visited a forest near Kursiong, where these Pigeons abound in 

 June and July, and neither saw nor heard one. 



Bonaparte gives as appertaining to Ducula, besides badia, 

 already alluded to, C. lacernulata, C. basilis, C. paulina, C. cine- 

 racea, and C. rosacea, of Temminck ; the first from Java, the others 

 from the more distant islands, Celebes, Timor, &c. He separates 

 the large white and black species, C. bicolor, C. luctuosa, and 

 C. grisea, under the name Myristicivora of Reichenbach. The 

 former of these is found in the Nicobar Islands, and the Southern 

 part of the Malayan Peninsula, as well as in many of the islands. 

 They have a comparatively short tail. Various other beautiful 

 species from the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, and Oceanica, 

 are separated by Bonaparte under the generic names of Ptilocolpa, 

 Zoncenas, Hemiphat/a, Mec/aloprepia and Sylphitreron. A very 

 large species, with a strong helmeted bill, from the Marquesas, 

 has been described and figured by Bonaparte under the name of 

 Serresius galeatus. Blyth indicates a short-winged type, which he 

 calls Dendrophaps. 



