PALUMBUS TOERIXGTONTJE. 695 



according to Jerdon, "in having the neck-patch clayey buff instead of white, and much contracted in size ; also in 

 the less extent of the white border to the primaries." It is a very fine species ; wing 10| inches. 



Distribution. — Essentially a bird of the mountain forests, this splendid Pigeon is well known to all 

 Europeans in the Central Province. It is very abundant in the Nuwara-Eliya plateau forests and on all the 

 surrounding wooded slopes down to an elevation of about 3000 feet ; below this it is not numerous. Kelaart 

 speaks of examples being procured at Gampola ; but this was in the days of forest ; now that the whole country 

 round that district is denuded, the visits of the Torrington Pigeon to it must be few and far between. I met 

 with it at Nuwara Eliya in May, and found it plentiful on the Horton Plains in January ; it seemed then to 

 prefer the singular isolated groves on the plains to the surrounding forest, no doubt owing to a greater abun- 

 dance of food obtaining at that time in the former. It is very numerous in the Peak forests, where I procured 

 l t under 3000 feet; and I have no doubt those vast jungles stretching along the high mountain-chain up to 

 the Horton Plains now form its chief stronghold. In the Morowak Korale I have killed it at Aning-Kanda 

 Estate as low as about 2-400 feet, and between there and the Kukul Korale it is, I understand, abundant at times. 



Mr. Holdsworth remarks that it "changes its locality according to the season and the time at which the fruit 

 of particular trees ripens;" he found it numerous at Nuwara Eliya at the end and beginning of the year. 

 Mr. Bligh has noticed that a migratory movement takes place just previous to the "bursting" of each monsoon; 

 which, together with its wanderings in search of fruit, will probably account for its somewhat periodical 

 appearance in many districts. 



This species was named torringtonim by its discoverer Kelaart, in compliment to the Viscountess Torrington. 



Habits. — Frequenting, for the most part, lofty trees in the primeval forests of the mountains, and being of 

 a very shy and wary disposition, this fine Pigeon is generally a difficult bird to procure ; but, notwithstanding, 

 it is much sought after on account of its excellent flesh, and frequently falls to the planter's gun. It is entirely 

 a fruit-eating species, and feeds more on the wild cinnamon-fruit than any other kind ; on this it gorges itself 

 to such an extent that I have found its crop burst wide open with the shock of falling to the ground : when thus 

 satiated it is not so watchful as usual, and may sometimes be approached without the cracking of a twig or the 

 noise of leaves crushed under foot frightening it off. It comes very early to roost; and I found that it 

 resorted to the same trees night after night, coming home from its forest wanderings about 4 p.m., and settling 

 down either in or somewhere near its intended roosting-place. It then commences its coo (which is a fine deep 

 note, but not so guttural or resounding as that of the Imperial Pigeon), now and then moving about among 

 the adjacent trees, but not flying away to any distance. By waiting in such places it may be more easily shot 

 than in any other manner. About 10 o'clock in the morning, after feeding, I have found it resting on the 

 under branches of moderately sized trees in the Nuwara-Eliya district ; but, as a rule, it selects the loftiest 

 branches to perch on. Its flight is very strong and swift, and it takes a good shot to bring it down as it darts 

 out of some lofty tree in its forest haunts ; Kelaart says that " it flies high and in long sweeps." In common 

 with other Pigeons it drinks in the morning; and I have found it at mountain-streams as late as 9 p.m. 

 Mr. Bligh informs me that it is unusual to find many together while feeding; but I imagine this depends on 

 the quantity of fruit there may be on any given tree ; he tells me he once saw 30 or 40 on a large tree in the 

 Dambetenne gorge, but never observed so many together on any other occasion. 



Nidification. — I was never foi'tunate enough to find this Pigeon's nest, nor to obtain much information 

 from my friends in the Central Province concerning its nesting-habits. Mr. Bligh writes, " I have seen their 

 nests both in spring and autumn as late as October; they generally build in lofty forest trees; but I once 

 frightened a large young one from a nest on a small tree some 15 feet above the ground." Kelaart merely 

 remarks, "Their nests are found on lofty trees." Its nest and eggs probably closely resemble those of its 

 South-Indian ally, P. elphinstoni, which builds a " slight platform " of a nest, and generally only lays one egg — 

 a broad oval, pure white, measuring from 1'46 to T56 inch in length by T07 to 12 inch in breadth. 



The figure in the Plate accompanying this article is that of a male shot at Palabaddala on the pilgrims' 

 path through the Peak forest. 



