218 Description of a new Indian Pigeon. [No. 3. 



1. Palumbus. The ' Cushats.' In the W. Himalaya, a bird of 

 this group is common, which differs so little from the European race 

 that the two would probably blend, were they to inhabit together. 

 The only distinctions consist in the neck-patch, which is large and 

 almost pure white in the European Cushat, being much contracted 

 and of a buff-colour in that of Asia; while the primaries also of 

 the latter are more narrowly margined externally with white. Upon 

 these slight distinctions, the Prince of Canino designates the orien- 

 tal race P. casiotis, and notes it from Chinese Tartary. He also 

 remarks that the Cushats of Algeria have the white neck-patch 

 more extended than in the European race ; and distinguishes an- 

 other and better-characterized race, from K. W. Africa, by the name 



P. EXCELSUS. 



The only other true Cushats known are from this country, viz. P. 

 pulchricollis, (Hodgson), from the E. Himalaya ; and P. Elphin- 

 stokei, (Sykes), from the Nilgiris and Malabar Ghats, — of which 

 latter the P. Torringtokli {Carpophaga Torringtonii, Kelaart,) can 

 scarcely be considered more than a variety,* and was first indicated 

 as such in J. A. S. XX, 178. Nevertheless, according to Mr. Edgar 

 L. Layard, the late H. E. Stricklaud " at once pronounced it to 

 be distinct" from P. Elphlnstonei. All will agree in admitting P. 

 torquatus, P. pulchricollis, and P. Elphinstonei as good ' spe- 

 cies ;' probably also P. excelsus : but most systematists would 

 prefer retaining casiotis and Torringtonii as ' permanent races' or 

 ' varieties' of P. torquatus and P. Elphinstonei respectively. It 

 will be observed that this is a mountain type as India ; being wholly 

 unknown in the plains, save P. Elphinstofei rarely on the elevat- 

 ed table-land of the Hukhun, and perhaps the casiotis may prove 

 to be a winter visitant in the Punjab, occurring probably in large 

 flocks. 



There are two other fine Indian "Wood Pigeons of the same 

 Columbine type (as distinguished from the Carpojpliagine series of 

 Fruit Pigeons) ; each of them being recognised as the type of a 

 separate subdivision by the Prince of Canino. They are the Den- 

 drotreron Hodgsonii, (Vigors), which is peculiar to the Hima- 

 layan forests,— and the Alsocomus puniceus, Tickell, of Orissa 

 * Commies Mendus i torn. XLIII, 837. 



