(28) COLUMBA LEUCONOTA Vigors. 



THE SNOW-PIGEON. 



(Plate 14.) 



Columba leuconota Vigors, P.Z.S. 1831, p. 23 ; Gould, Gen. Him. B., pi. 59 

 Blyth, J.A.S.B., XIV p. 864; id.. Cat. B.M.A.S.B., p. 234; Jerdon 

 B.I., III p. 471 ; Stoliezka, J.A.S.B., XXXVII pt. 2, p. 66 ; Blanf. 

 ib., XLI pt. 2 p. 70 ; Hume and Hen., Lah. to Yark., p. 274 ; Brookes^ 

 Str. Feath., Ill p. 256 ; Hume, ib., VIII pp. 110 and 340 ; id.. Cat. no 

 790 ; Salvadori, Cat. B.M., XXI p. 249; Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV p. 32 

 Sharpe, Hand-List, I p. 68 ; Finn., J.B.N.H.S., XIV p. 577 ; Fulton 

 ib., XVI p. 60 ; Ward, ib., XVII p. 943 ; Perreau, ib., XIX p. 919 

 BaUey, ib., XXI p. 182 ; Magrath, ib., p. 1312. 



Vernacular Names. Bujul, Chamba ; Lho-peu-rintiep, Lepcha, 

 Bya-den, Bhot. 



Description. — Adult male. Whole head and neck very dark slaty- 

 grey, darkest on the nape and practically black where it adjoins a white 

 nuchal collar. In turn this white collar gradually changes into a light brown 

 on the upper-back, scapulars, and the innermost lesser wing-coverts and 

 secondaries. Lower-back white ; rump and upper tail-coverts black ; tail 

 slaty-black at base, followed by a broad white band across the middle, and 

 broadly tipped black, this black band narrower on the outermost taU-feathers. 

 Wings grey, with three visible broad bands of brown running across the 

 median and greater coverts and the secondaries ; a fourth band, concealed 

 by the tips of the overlying feathers, on the bases of the innermost median 

 coverts. Primaries grey, browner at the tips, and with a very narrow edge 

 of sUver-grey on the outer webs when these feathers are fresh and in perfect 

 condition ; outer secondaries grey at the base and brown on their terminal 

 halves ; all quill-shafts dark brown. 



Below, breast pure white, changing to pale dove-grey on the posterior 

 flanks and abdomen ; under-tail-coverts very pale dove-grey ; under aspect 

 of the wing the same, with the edges of the shoulders a darker grey. 



Colours of soft parts. Bill black ; irides golden-yellow ; legs and feet 

 bright scarlet-red, the soles paler, and the claws black ; " mouth bright 

 fleshy-red " (Hume). 



Measurements. Length 12.5 in. to 13.5 in. ( = 317.5 to 342.7 mm.) ; 

 wing 8.5 in. to 9.6 in. ( = 215.9 to 243.8 mm.) ; tail about 5 in. (127 mm) ; 

 tarsus 1.2 in. ( = 30.4 mm.) ; bill from gape about 1 in. ( = 25.4 mm.) and 

 at front about .65 in. (16.5 mm.). 



" Weight 10 oz." (Hume). 



Adult female. I cannot see that there is any constant difierence between 

 the sexes, but Salvadori says that the grey colour of the back and wings 

 in the female is somewhat duller. 



Colours of soft parts. As in the male. 



Measurements. With the exception that the female is a more slender 

 built and lighter bird, the measurements are the same as in the male. 



