IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 237 



birds have no ruddy tinge on the breast, but they can be readily 

 distinguished from the green pigeons by the colour of the legs. 



Hab. — Found throughout the Himalayas, from 4,000 to 8,000 

 feet, extending to the hill ranges of Assam and Sylhet. They descend 

 to the plains in winter, returning to the hills in summer. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Though denizens of a cold climate, they bear captivity in the 

 plains of Bengal much better than the Bengal green pigeons (No. 124), 

 which live in a wild state in the neighbourhood of the garden. 



Treatment in health. 



Homing. — A columbarium or pigeonry with separate divisions for 

 the accommodation of different groups of pigeons is no doubt the most 

 desirable arrangement, and, when such a luxury is possible, a house 

 of the following style (though by no means perfect) will be found 

 to answer all practical purposes in this climate. A covered shed some 

 50 feet long, and about 12 feet broad, raised 3 feet above the level of 

 the ground, should be divided into three or four compartments accord- 

 ing to requirements. The back and sides of the shed should be solid 

 brick wall, some 12 feet high from the ground, the front may be 

 built of planks or stout wire-netting, with intervening pillars on which 

 the sloping roof should rest ; corresponding to each division of the 

 covered shed, there should be open air nights enclosed all round with 

 one-inch mesh wire-netting. Unless, however, the open air enclosure 

 is built on a brick-on-edge platform, which need not be more than six 

 inches above the ground level, the rats will be very troublesome. But, 

 on the other hand, half the value and utility of such a place will 

 be lost owing to the hard brick floor, which, besides being unsuit- 

 able for its hardness alone, will be very hot during the mid-day heat 

 of the summer, and very cold in the winter mornings. As a com- 

 promise, however, between these two, about three or four inches of 

 earth should be spread over half of it and doob grass laid, the remaining 

 half being covered with gravel or sand. During the summer the wire 

 roof of the outside portion should be covered with a thin thatch of 

 ooloo grass ; if the front of the covered portion be made of wire-netting, 

 it should be protected with shutters during the cold winter nights. The 

 house must, of course, be fitted up with the necessary perches, boxes, 

 and nesting places, and other requisites of a bird-house. Various other 

 styles may be adopted, but it is unnecessary to mention them. In 

 this garden the pigeons are mostly accommodated in large aviaries 

 by themselves or with other birds, and they generally thrive. The 

 place for the Crown pigeons should be lofty and spacious, and the floor 

 well sanded ; being large and beautiful birds, they can never be seen to 

 advantage unless the cage is proportionately large; if possible, they 

 should have a retiring box so placed as to be perfectly screened from 

 visitors. The Wonga Wonga pigeons are also fond of retirement, and 

 appear to do well when placed by themselves ; they should also have their 

 retiring box in some sheltered corner and as high as possible. The 

 blood-breasted pigeons are very delicate, but when they once become 



