ORD. MASOJRES. 



FAM. COLUMBIBM. 



GEN. COLUMBA. 



PLATE XLVIIL 



COLUMBA ELPHINSTONII. 



NEELGHERRY WOOD PIGEON. 



Synon. — Ptilinopus ElpJiinstonii — Sykes — C. pulchricoUis, Hodgs. ? ? 



This handsome Pigeon I have only hitherto found in the dense woods on 

 the summit of the Neelgherries, hut as Sykes found it in the woods of the Western 

 Ghats, I have no doubt that hereafter it will be ascertained to inhabit all the higher 

 parts of that range of mountains. It is found single, or in small parties of four 

 or five. It in general keeps to the woods, living on various fruit and berries, but 

 occasionally it descends to the ground to procure various seeds and shells (Bulimi) 

 which I have frequently found in its crop. I am unacquainted with its call and 

 nidification, though it certainly breeds on the Neelgherries. Colonel Sykes, its original 

 describer, makes it a Ptilinopus, but it is clearly (as Mr. Blyth ingeniously imagined 

 from its mode of coloration alone, for he had not seen a specimen) a true Columha 

 of the subdivision Palumbus or Cushat, Mr. Gray in his list of Hodgson's specimens 

 presented to the British Museum, makes the C. pulchricoUis of that gentleman a 

 synonym of this Pigeon, which however I cannot assent to, on comparing the bird 

 now before me with Mr, Blyth's copious description of pulchricoUis. I add a 

 description of Elphinstonii, which name I may mention was given in honor of the 

 Governor of Bombay, the Hon. Moimstuart Elphinstone. Head, neck and plumage 

 beneath ashy, the neck and breast glossed with green; a large nuchal mark black, 

 the feathers tipped white ; plumage above of a copper colour glossed slightly with 

 purple and green. Quills and tail dusky black. Bill red, yellowish at the tip. Feet 

 lake coloured. Irides yellow. 



Length about 15 inches — wing Sj — tail 6. 



