(i8) DUCULA INSIGNIS INSIGNIS (Hodg.). 

 HODGSON'S IMPERIAL PIGEON. 



Ducula insignia Hodg., As. Res., XIX p. 162 (1836) ; Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV 

 p. 21 ; Stuart Baker, J.B.N.H.S., X p. 360 ; Sharpe, Hand-List, p. 66. 



Carpophaga insignis Blyth, J.A.S.B., XIV p. 855; id., Cat. B.M.A.S.B., 

 p. 232 ; Jerdon, B.I., III p. 458 ; Godw.-Aus., J.A.S.B., XLIII pt. 2 

 p. 171 ; id. ib., XLV pt. 2 p. 83 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 496 ; 

 id., Str. Feath., HI p. 328 ; id. ib., VIII p. 109 ; id.. Cat. no. 781 ; Oates, 

 in Hume's Nests and Eggs, 2nd ed. II p. 368 ; Salvadori, Cat. B.M., 

 XXI p. 216; Harington, B. Burma, p. 65. 



Vernacular Names. Dukul, H. in Nepal ; Fomok, Lepcha ; Lai 

 Pagoma, Assamese ; Daohukuruma gajao, Cachari ; Inruikuru gaherba, Naga. ; 

 Hgnet-nga-nwa, Burmese. 



Description. — Adult male. Whole upper part of the head, nape, neck, 

 and shoulders a vinous or lilac-grey, changing gradually into copper-brown 

 on the mantle, back, scapulars, lesser and median wing-coverts ; lower-back, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts dark grey, the first named more or less suffused 

 with copper-brown. Upper aspect of tail black on the basal two-thirds, 

 the extreme base being rather paler and the terminal third brownish-grey. 

 Chin, throat, and lower half of cheeks white, changing gradually into ashy 

 or vinous-grey on the breast and rest of the lower-parts except the under 

 tail-coverts, which are pale bufi ; the abdomen is often paler than the breast ; 

 flanks and axillaries a purer grey ; under-surface of the wings dark grey, 

 the primaries and secondaries above being black except on the inner 

 secondaries which, with the greater coverts, are olive-brown. Under aspect 

 of the tail the same in pattern as above, but much paler in colour. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris pale grey, grey or bluish-grey ; bill whitish 

 at the extreme tip, pale brown on the succeeding portion, and deep 

 purplish-fleshy or dull carmine on the cere and basal portion ; legs and feet 

 deep purple-lake, or rather dull coral-red much suffused with carmine, soles 

 paler and pinker, the claws pale brown, darker at the tip ; orbital skin purple- 

 grey, purer grey immediately round the eye. 



Measurements. Length 18 to 20 ki. ( = 457 to 508 mm.) ; wing 9 to 

 10.2 in. { = 228.6 to 259 mm.) ; tail 7 to 8.5 in. ( = 177.8 to 216.0 mm.) ; bill 

 at front about 1 in. ( = 25.4 mm.) and from gape about 1.5 in. ( = 39 mm.) ; 

 tarsus 1 to 1.25 in. ( = 25.4 to 32.2 mm.). 



Adult female. Does not differ from the male. 



The series I have measured shows that the female is on an average a 

 trifle smaller than the male, the wing measuring 9.2 in. ( = 233.6 mm.) 

 against 9.45 in. ( = 239.5 mm.). 



Young. "Duller; scarcely any purple tinge on the back and wing 

 coverts; the latter edged with rufous chestnut; the head greyish with 

 scarcely any vinous tinge " (Salvadori). 



