276 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
as plumage is concerned, the same intermediate position 
between the Japanese and European races that it does 
geographically. From T. gelastis it appears to differ, in 
having, like T, awitus, scarcely any white tipping to the 
central tail-feathers, and in having the tips of the lateral 
tail-feathers and the exterior webs of the external laterals 
pure white, instead of pale bluish grey, in having the lower 
tail- coverts nearly pure white, and the chin and throat 
much paler. 
From T. auritus it differs in having, like T. gelastis, a 
richer vinaceous rufous tinge on the back, scapulars, and 
breast, by the tips of the feathers of the black neck spots 
being a beautiful blue grey instead of white, in having a 
coarser bill, and generally in its larger size. It also differs 
from T. auritus in the white tippings of the tail-feathers 
being narrower, and in having the middle and lower back, 
axillaries and wing-lining a more or less deep slaty blue, 
instead of greyish brown in the case of the two former, and 
light ash grey in that of the two latter. 
The conclusions I come to, therefore, are (1) that T. 
rupicola of Pallas is a different bird altogether. (2) That 
our Indian bird differs nearly as much from T. gelastis as 
from T. auritus, and that if T. gelastis is maintained as 
distinct, so ought T. vitticollis to be, but that under certain 
views of what constitutes specific differences (views in which, 
however, I do not concur) it is quite admissible to unite 
them both with T. auritus. 
So far from being only a winter visitant to the Hills, as 
Jerdon supposes, it is almost exclusively a summer resident 
only. A few birds remain in the lower valleys of the Hills, 
doubtless, but the great majority move downwards in 
the cold season to the plains of Upper and Central India. 
When I was stationed in the Etawa district in the Doab, 
halfway between Agra and Cawnpore, this Dove used to 
pass down in November and up again in March. For two 
or three days on each occasion, every grove and every road- 
side avenue swarmed with them, but not a solitary bird 
was ever seen except on those two occasions in the year. 
