187 



150. Columba palumbus, Linn. 



Pretty generally distributed over the lesser ranges. The clay- 

 colour of the nuchal patch seems peculiar to the Eastern species. 



151. Columba livia, Linn. 



In the usual localities all over the Cashmere ranges ; frequently 

 seen associating with the next species. There is a variety of C. livia 

 which might easily be confounded with C. leuconota, if indeed it is 

 a variety, and not a distinct species. The back and wings are a light 

 blue, inner surfaces of wings white ; rump white ; tail-coverts leaden 

 black; a broad white band across the middle of the tail, its tip 

 black ; belly and lower parts bluish-white. 



This variety I found abundant on the rocky banks of the Dras 

 river, Ladakh ; and my reasons for supposing it only a variety of C. 

 livia were the constant companionship of the two, and some variety 

 as regards the colouring of both ; however, it is possible they may 

 be distinct species. I saw this bird nowhere else. 



152. Columba leuconota, Vig. 



Gregarious ; common in certain sequestered mountain- valleys on 

 the northern Cashmere ranges. Seen often with C. livia, feeding in 

 fields in the Wurdwun Valley ; it was met with in Ladakh on one 

 occasion. I have seen no variety of C. leuconota. The drawing in 

 Gould's ' Century of Birds from the Himalayan Mountains ' is iden- 

 tical with my specimens ; the legs, however, are lobster-red, and not 

 yellow. 



153. Turtur orientalis (Lath.). 



In fields and cultivated districts in Cashmere and Ladakh. 



154. Turtur humilts (Temm.). 

 Valley and lesser ranges : common. 



155. Turtur ? 



This species is common in certain localities on the Cashmere ranges 

 and Ladakh ; plentiful likewise to the east towards Simla. Fre- 

 quents grassy mountain-sides or valleys in the lesser ranges. De- 

 scription from a young male — Total length 12 inches. Bill slender, 

 soft at its base, and of a beet-root colour, tip bluish ; nostrils slit- 

 like. Iris red ; eyelids bare, and of the same colour as the bill. 

 Head bluish-ash, black semicircle on the back part of the neck ; 

 back and rump leaden-brown ; wings blackish, their coverts broadly 

 margined with rust-colour, giving the bird a spotted or mottled ap- 

 pearance. Tail pretty long, rather narrow, bluish-black, with a 

 broad white tip ; lower parts brown, turning to white towards the 

 vent ; inner surface of wings leaden colour ; tarsus and toes beet-root 

 colour ; vent-feathers white, A specimen marked T. meena (Sykes). 

 in the Derby Museum, comes close to this bird. 



156. There is a beautiful species with bronze wings on the lesser 



