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



Trincomali, and a rock of the Southern coast near Barberrya.* 

 Prom these it makes incursions into the interior, and I have heard," 

 he adds, " of specimens being shot on the great central road, about 

 fifty miles from Trincomali." Dr. Jerdon remarks that " it abounds 

 all over India, and is occasionally found in the more open spaces of 

 jungles, especially in rocky districts, and in the neighbourhood of 

 water-falls, — but more generally in the open country, inhabiting 

 walls of villages, pagodas, wells, and any large buildings, and breed- 

 ing chiefly in old walls." Major Tickell, again, notices it as "exceed- 

 ingly common in Chota Nagpur, breeding in all the steep lofty rocks 

 of that country." Lastly, Capt. Hutton states that " it is found in 

 Afghanistan, where, as in many parts of India, it builds in wells 

 and ruined buildings ; the Kazeezes, or Artesian wells of Afghan- 

 istan, are sometimes crowded with them. They occur also in the 

 .Deyra Doon, and are known as the common Blue Pigeon. At 

 Masuri, I have seen them only in the cultivated fields, low down on 

 the sides of hills, in warm situations." Length 13 in. by 23 in. in 

 breadth ; and C. livia is described as measuring 13^ in. by 22 in. : 

 though it is doubtful if there be any real difference. 



Upon other authority, we have been assured that the common 

 Blue Pigeon of Afghanistan has the white rump of the European 

 livia. It is probably identical with the Kemaon bird next to be 

 described ; and both with the C. eupesteis of the Prince of Canino. 



The late Major Boys, a most experienced collector of Indian 

 birds, whose description of the Indian ' Stock Pigeon' we have just 

 verified, also distinguished a "Blue Bock Pigeon" which he pro- 

 cured at Hawulbagh in Kemaon. "This Pigeon," he remarks, 

 " differs considerably from the common Blue Pigeon ; particularly 

 in its weight and size. It is in every respect much lighter in 

 plumage. Length of a male 12f in., by 25 in. ; weight 7 oz. 8 dr. 

 Bill black, the cere grey ; iris red ; legs pink. Top of head, chin, 

 and sides of face, ashy-grey. Back of neck and upper part of 

 breast glazed metallic green. Bottom of neck metallic purple 

 blending into ashy light grey on the belly. Planks and vent light 

 grey : wing-coverts and upper part of the back of the same colour. 

 Middle of lack white. Upper tail-coverts dark ashy-grey. Quills 



* Resorting thus, it would seem, to sea- cliffs wherever the latter are available. 



