PIGEON. 85 



purple ; the feathers of the neck very long, and pointed, reflecting 

 glosses of blue, red, copper, and gold, in different lights; back and 

 wings green, glossed equally with copper and gold ; body large and 

 massive, the belly dark green, almost black ; some of the outer 

 quills and coverts above them, fine blue ; tail short, the feathers of 

 it, and upper coverts white ; the wings, when closed, exceed it in 

 length ; legs reddish, large, and scaly. 



The female differs in being less glossy ; neck feathers shorter, 

 and less brilliant. 



Inhabits Sumatra, the Isle of Nicobar, and other parts of India : 

 is a heavy bird, with rounded wings, and keeps on the ground in the 

 manner of other poultry ; and, like them, feeds on grain, but occa- 

 sionally eats insects, and all kinds of worms; will mix with other 

 poultry, and roost with them on the trees at night; they fly heavily, 

 and not a great way at a time, but run on the ground sufficiently fast ; 

 are now and then brought into Europe, but with difficulty pass 

 through the winter, especially the first season, though by degrees 

 become more hardy ; and we have seen them more than once in 

 England, in good condition : care should be taken to keep them in 

 a close and dry habitation, moisture being very destructive to them. 



Among some drawings, done under the inspection of Dr. Bu- 

 chanan, was a specimen answering in plumage to the above; but I 

 observed that the crown was black, and on the centre a wrinkled 

 kind of caruncle, resembling in miniature the comb of a Cock ; the 

 irides dark brown, surrounded with a pale ring; and the wings, 

 when closed, reached one inch beyond the tail. 



This came from Malacca, and was alive in the Aviary when Dr. 

 Buchanan took his figure and description, and according to M. Tem- 

 minck is the male bird. It is probably scarce in India, for I do 

 not observe mention made of more than one. The flesh of this bird 

 is said to be very good and savoury. 



