NICOBAR PIGEON. MALE. 
Columba Nicobarica. Lin. Sysl. i. p. 283. JVo. 27 . 
Le Pigeon de Nincobar. Bris. Om. i. p. 153. JVo. u. 
Nicobar Pigeon. Edxu. 339. Lath. Gen. Sjn. ii. 
p. 642 . 38 . 
A PAIR of these most beautiful birds were received from the East Indies. 
They are natives of the Nicobar Islands, which are situated at the entrance 
of the Gulf of Bengal, and from thence they derive their name. 
In size they do not exceed that of the common Pigeon. The bill is 
dusky ; the irides are of an hazel colour ; the head, the throat, the thighs, 
and under coverts of the tail, are of a dark bluish purple; the belly of a 
dusky brown ; the feathers of the neck are long and pointed, like those of 
the Dunghill Cock, with beautiful and splendid reflections of blue, red, 
gold, and bronze colour; the back and upper part of the wings are green, 
changing to copper colour and gold ; some of the outer quills, and coverts 
above them, are of a fine blue; the tail and upper coverts white, the legs 
reddish. 
The female differs from the male in her plumage, which is less glossy ; 
and the pointed feathers on the neck are somewhat shoiter. 
From the care, attention, and every accommodation which these birds 
enjoyed in the delightful spot which was appropriated to their residence, 
there was every reason to hope that they would have bied, but notwith 
standing the hen went to nest several times, her eggs were never productive. 
