Genus OENOPOPELIA. 



This genus is one created by Blanford for two birds, subspecies, 

 which differ from other Doves, as shown by him in the Avifauna of 

 British India : " The little Ruddy Ring-Dove is distinguished from 

 all other species by its long wing, with its first primary nearly or quite 

 equal to the second, and by having the sexes dissimilar in plumage." 

 He then adds : " Two species are generally attributed to this group, 

 but I cannot see that they are sufficiently distinct to deserve separa- 

 tion." There certainly is not enough difference between them to form 

 two species, nor would it be correct to do so for the two intergrade 

 and the Burmese form is but a geographical race, or subspecies, of the 

 Indian bird. At the same time they are distinct enough to make it 

 an easy matter to at once pick out specimens of either race from 

 amongst a series of the two races mixed together, with the exception 

 of a certain number which are to be found in the area where the two 

 forms meet. 



q2 



