712 TURTUR PULCHEATUS. 



under tail-coverts are at all times distinct from the white, or nearly white, ones of the Himalayan migratory 

 species. 



It is thus satisfactorily demonstrated, I think, that there are two species in India. The dark under tail-coverted form 

 is apparently the same as the Japanese ; and if so must take the name of T. gelastes, Temm. Whether the other 

 — which is the present species — is the same as T. rupicolus (T. orientalis ?) I am unable to decide ; but it is evidently 

 the bird styled T. pulchratus by Hodgson. 



1 have compared the Ceylonese migrant, above described, with two specimens from Nepal in the British Museum. 

 The first measures 7 - 8 inches in the wing (my bird would measure about 7'5 inches if the quills were perfect) and 

 has the under tail-coverts very pale albescent astiy, with the tips whitish, in fact not so white, on the whole, as 

 in my bird ; the nape is more rufous and the chest more vinous. The second measures 7 - 4 inches in the wing, 

 and the under tail-coverts are very pale bluish grey at the bases, and nearly white at the tips. Another specimen, 

 from " North Burmah," has the under tail-coverts as pale as the Nepal birds ; they are whitish ashy. 



Jerdon's description of this species is unsatisfactory ; he says it is " brown beneath, becoming whitish towards the 

 vent," also " the back and rump ashy brown." 



The European Turtle-Dove, T. auritus, of which the species here treated of are the Asiatic representatives, differs 

 from them in being bluish on the head and nape, with the rufous edgings of the scapulars and wing-coverts of a 

 different hue; these are more yellow-rufous than in our bird; the interscapular region is not so rufous, but 

 more of a brownish grey ; the breast has a very delicate hue, being of a pink vinaceous colour ; the hind neck 

 above the collar is slate-blue and not rufous. It is a smaller bird ; wing about 7'0 inches. 



An allied form to T. auritus is the Egyptian species T. sharpii, Shelley, which has the head pale yellowish brown 

 instead of ashy, the chest "rich pink," and the rump, upper tail-coverts, and the two central tail-feathers 

 " broadly edged with yellowish brown." Captain Shelley calls it a desert form of T. auritus. It is beautifully 

 figured, pi. x., 'Birds of Egypt,' along with the European species. 



Distribution.— -This handsome Dove has proved to be an occasional straggler to Ceylon. Its first recorded 

 appearance is that testified to in Layard's notes as follows : — " I shot a young bird of this species from a 

 small flock of Pigeons which flew over my head as I was travelling with the late Dr. Gardner in the Pasdun 

 Korale in the month of December, 1848," The locality and time of year mark this individual as a visitant 

 to the island during the prevalence of the north or " long-shore " wind. In looking over a collection of my 

 friend Mr. Bligh's at Norwich last year I detected an adult individual of this species ; and on communi- 

 cating with this gentleman he writes me from Catton as follows: — "The Dove T. rupicola was sent me 

 in the flesh from Nilambe by Mr. G. S. Grigson, in 1871, during the cold season, and is the only one I have 

 seen." 



It is highly probable that on the two occasions in question not a few examples of this species visited the 

 island, and in the north it may put in an appearance oftener than is supposed. 



I identify Layard's specimen with mine and not with the allied species with dark under tail-coverts, 

 simply because the birds that have visited Ceylon must needs belong to the migratory form ; and the latter 

 Mr. Hume proves to be a resident species in continental India. There is a specimen, if I remember right, 

 in the Poole collection, but so faded that it would be impossible to say whether it originally had dark or 

 light under tail-coverts ; but I think we may, on the grounds here advanced, safely conclude it belongs to 

 the race with the latter characteristic. 



The bird with the white under tail-coverts, whatever its right classical name may be, is an inhabitant 

 in summer of Nepal and the sub-Himalayas beyond Nepal towards the north-west. In the cool season it 

 migrates to the south, chiefly avoiding the desert country of Rajpootana, according to Mr. Hume, although 

 Captain Butler says that it occurs rarely at Mount Aboo, and Mr. Adam obtained it in the Sambhur district. 

 It is found at Mahabaleshwar in the cool season, but does not seem to have been procirred in the Nilghiris 

 or the Palani hills. Now, however, that we know that it has strayed as far south as Ceylon, it must of 

 necessity pass by these districts to reach the island, and no doubt, when the species reaches our limits, some 

 lew examples lodge in them. Mr. Ball does not record it from any of the eastern districts which he has 

 worked, having only met with the allied bird with the dark under tail-coverts, which, being resident there, 

 seems to replace it in that part of India. 



Habits. — I glean nothing of note concerning the economy of this Dove from the writings of Indian 



