THE COMMON OR PXNK-NECKED GREEN PIGEON 
In the field the white breast proclaims the bird's identity and 
we have never had any tronble in identifying this pigeon, even 
under the somewhat difficult circumstances under which it is 
usually met with in Singapore, when all one gets is a passing 
glimpse as the bird flashes past the sampan when one is 
exploring the mangrove — lined creeks, it is usually met with 
alone or in pairs but very little is known of the habits and 
observations made on its nesting habits would be of great 
value. Although it is met with elsewhere this species seems 
to prefer the mangrove areas. It would also appear that it is 
to some extent migratory hut its movements are little 
understood^ 
The cinnamon-headed green pigeon (Treron ftthicoUis) is 
known to the Malays as the "punai bakau", a very appropriate 
name, for it seems largely an inhabitant of the mangrove belt 
fringing the coasts. In Singapore it does not appear to be 
common but little shooting is done in the localities most 
frequented by it and as we have seen it fairly commonly in 
the islands of the Rhio Archipelago just to the south of, and 
within sight of Singapore, it seems not unreasonable to siippose 
that the bird may be more numerous on the island than the few 
locally shot examples that have come to hand of recent years 
would lead us to believe. Mr. Boden Kloss tells us that be 
formerly obser\'ed the '*punai bakau" in fair numbers in 
Singapore, roosting in the mangroves in the evenings. 
The cock bird is very distinctive and quite unlike any other 
Singapore pigeon. The whole of the head, neck and breast 
are cinnamon in colour. On the underparts this colour 
gradually merges into green on the abdomen. The flanks are 
grey. The mantle is rich chestnut or more ]5roperIy " purple - 
maroon". The wings are black with yellow markings; the 
middle tail feathers green and the others grey. 
The female is so very much like the female punat {vermtts) 
that great care must be used to avoid making an error in 
identification. The chief difference is in the colour of the 
crown which in the present species is grey whereas in the 
common punai it is green hke the mantle. 
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