PIGEON. 23 



rocks, in both which they build their nest, and lay two white eggs. 

 In one of these, brought into England by Mr. Salt, the lower part 

 of the back and rump, as well as the upper tail coverts, are very pale 

 ash-colour ; belly and vent much the same. It is the common 

 domestic Pigeon of Abyssinia ; hundreds are seen round the house of 

 every chief, and being well fed, aiford an excellent meal. The 

 Abyssinians do not object to eating them. They are not apt to vary 

 in plumage. 



11. —SPOTTED GREEN PIGEON— Pl. cxvii. 



Columba maeulata, Ind. Orn. ii. 605. Gm. Lin. i. 780. Temm. Pig. 8vo. i. p. 465. 

 Spotted green Pigeon, Gen. Syn. iv. 642. 



LENGTH twelve inches. Bill black, tip pale yellow; round 

 the eye somewhat naked ; general colour of the plumage dark glossy 

 green ; head and neck darker than the rest; the feathers of the neck 

 longer than the others, and pointed, like the hackles of a Cock ; wing 

 coverts and scapulars each tipped with a cinereous white spot, some- 

 what triangular, the point upwards; quills and tail black, the former 

 tipped with cinereous white; and the feathers of the latter with pale 

 ferruginous; shape even at the end ; belly, thighs, and vent, dusky 

 black ; legs reddish brown, the shins covered half way with downy 

 feathers ; claws black. 



We have only seen two specimens; one in the collection of Gen. 

 Davies, the other in possession of Sir Joseph Banks. In a drawing 

 of one at Sir Ashton Lever's, the end of the tail is deep ferruginous. 



12 — SUMATRAN PIGEON. 



BILL black; head, neck, and all beneath pale blue grey; back 

 and wings green ; quills and tail dull greenish blue; legs red. 

 Inhabits Sumatra. — India drawings. 



