ALSOCOMITS PUNICEUS. 697 



states that it is only found "in the eastern portion of Central India, extending to near the sea-coast in Midna- 

 pore, and probably southwards towards Cuttack." He was of opinion that it was more common in the countries 

 to the east of the Bay of Bengal, in Assam, Arracan, and Tenasserim, and instances the island of Rarnree, off 

 the coast of Arrakau, where it is numerous. I do not find, however, that it is common on the Irrawaddy 

 delta, for Dr. Armstrong procured but one specimen in evergreen forest near China Ba-keer. In Tenasserim 

 it is, according to Messrs. Hume and Davison, sparingly distributed throughout the northern and central parts 

 of the province. The latter gentleman, in fact, writes of it, " I have found this Pigeon very rare in Tenasserim, 

 meeting with one now and then, and always singly. Captain Bingham tells me that they are not rare in the 

 Sinzaway reserve forest on the Younzaleen." Tickell met with it in Singbhum, and Captain Beavan procured 

 it in Maunbhum, on the banks of the river Cossye ; elsewdiere in the same region Mr. Ball has seen it on the 

 Mahan river and its tributaries in Sirguja, but finding it very shy did not procure a specimen. 



Habits. — Tickell met with the " Purple Wood-Pigeon'" in small parties of four or five, always along the 

 banks of rivers which were shaded by forest trees. It is, according to Jerdon, wary and difficult of approach ; 

 and the observations of subsequent naturalists corroborate this statement. In the ' Birds of India ' it is stated 

 to feed on the fruit of the Jamoon {Eugenia jambolana) morning and evening, and to roost, during the heat of 

 the day, on the uppermost branches of lofty trees. Captain Beavan found that it likewise subsisted on the 

 fruit of the Strychnos nux-vomica ; he writes that " it is excessively wary and can seldom be procured, excej)t 

 by a flying shot, as the birds dart out of the thick foliage on hearing a step below them on the ground." 



We learn nothing concerning its nidification from any source, and its eggs, therefore, remain to be 

 described. 



Genus COLUMBA. 

 Bill longer and more compressed than in the last genus ; tumid portion swollen. Wings 

 long and firm, the 2nd quill the longest. Tail rather short, very firm and rounded at the tip. 

 Tarsi and feet more slender than in Palumbus, but with the claws short and very deep. 



4u 



