MALACCA PIGEON. 



89 



Forehead and throat of a bright grey-blue : 

 the occiput is brown : the feathers on the nape 

 and the sides of the neck, tlie lateral parts of the 

 breast and of the body, are alternately streaked 

 with white and dusky brown ; those of the nape 

 are reddish : the whole of the back, the wing- 

 coverts, and the rump, are of an earthy grey ; 

 they are tipped with a slight black band : the 

 greater and middle quills are of a dusky brown : 

 the wing beneath is rosy : the centre of the breast 

 is of a vinaceous hue, which colour passes down 

 over the belly and abdomen, and the tail-coverts, 

 gradually getting whiter, till at the last it becomes, 

 of a pure white : the tail-feathers are of a dusky 

 brown ; the two intermediate ones are of an earthy 

 brown; the three lateral ones for three quarters 

 of their length are blackish, the ends white ; the 

 fourth feather on each side has the tip only white: 

 the beak is black, with a yellow point : the irides 

 and the legs are of an orpiment yellow. The 

 female differs from the male in the colours, being 

 less vivid : the grey-blue on the forehead and the 

 throat is more dull, and the transverse streaks on 

 the neck and sides are less determined than in the 

 male. This is a beautiful species : it inhabits the 

 Isle of Java, Malacca, the Isles of Sunda, and 

 others of the vast Indian Archipelago : in the 

 former it is frequent at the borders of the great 

 woods ; it constructs its nest on the trees, and is 

 held in great estimation by the natives : it is very 

 fine eating, and is easily tamed ; its cry is very 

 harmonious and affecting; the male and female 

 are very loving, and their movements graceful. 



