(39) STREPTOPELIA TURTUR ORIENTALIS (Lath.). 

 THE RUFOUS TURTLE-DOVE. 



Columba arientalis Lath., Ind. Orn., II p. 606 (part), 1783 (ex Sonnerat). 



Columba rupicola Pall., Zoogr. Rosso-As., I p. 566. 



Columba agricola Tickell, J.A.S.B., II p. 581 (1835). 



Turtur orientalis Blyth, ib., XIV p. 876; Hutton, ib., XVII 2nd pt. 

 p. 13 (?) ; Scully, Str. Feath., VIII p. 340 ; Dresser, J.B.N.H.S., XVI 

 p. 729 ; Ward, ib., XVTI p. 943 ; Salvador!, Cat. B.M., XXI p. 403 

 (part) ; Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., IV p. 40 (part) ; Sharpe, Hand-List, I p. 77 

 (part) ; Oates, Cat. Eggs B.M., I p. 94 (part). 



Turtur rupicolus Jerdon, B.I. (part), III p. 477. 



Vernacular Names. None recorded which really refer to this form of 

 Streptopelia. 



Description. — Adult male. Differs from the Rufous Turtle-Dove (meena) 

 in being much paler-coloured below, the centre of the abdomen is albescent, 

 and the feathers of the vent and tibial plumes are practically white ; the 

 under tail-coverts, flanks, and under wing-coverts are a paler dove-grey, and 

 the fore-head, chin, and throat are also decidedly paler. The difierences 

 pointed out are sufficient to distinguish this race at a glance from its southern 

 prototype, and in addition to this it is a considerably larger bird. 



Measurements. About 14 in. ( = 345.6 mm.) in total length; wing 7.50 

 ( = 190.5 mm.) to 7.85 in. ( = 199.4 mm.) and averaging 7.70 in. 

 ( = 195.5 mm.) ; tail 5.2 to 6 in. ( = 132 to 152 mm.) ; bill at front about 

 .7 in. ( = 17.7 mm.) and from gape about 1.1 in. ( = 28 mm.) ; tarsus rather 

 over .90 in. ( = 22.8 mm). 



" Weight 6 oz." (Davison). 



"Length 12 to 12.9; expanse 21.7 to 23.7; wing 7.3 to 7.95; tail 

 5.0 to 5.6 ; tarsus 1.0 ; bill from gape 0.9 to 0.95 ; bUl at front 0.65 to 0.71 ; 

 closed wings short of tail 1.5 to 2.5 ; weight 6.5 to 7.5 oz." (Scully). 



Colours of soft parts. " Irides orange ; bill dusky leaden ; cere at base, 

 gape, and margins of eyelid, purple ; eyelid plumbous ; tarsi purple, toes 

 livid purple, claws dusky " (Davison). 



" Iris pale red ; bill dusky horny, skin purplish ; legs and feet pale laka 

 red " (Walton). 



Female resembles the male in all respects. 



Scully considers the female to be smaller than the male and gives the 

 following measurements of six birds: "Length 11.75 to 12.5; expanse 

 20.5 to 22.8 ; wing 6.85 to 7.6 ; tail 5.0 to 5.6 ; tarsus 0.97 to 1.13 ; bill 

 from gape 0.87 to 0.95 ; bill at front 0.6 to 0.75 ; closed wings short of tail 

 2.0 to 2.6 ; weight 6 to 7.5 oz." 



Young. Exactly like that of meena, but rather paler below. 



