222 
THE NICOBAR GROUND-PIGEON. 
and lays several eggs, and the young, like those of 
the preceding species, follow the parent .birds soon 
after their evolution from the egg. The notes of 
this bird consist of low guttural cooings, not nearly 
so sonorous or pleasing as those of our Common 
Ring Pigeon. Unlike the Columbidss in general, it 
shews but little timidity or wildness of disposition, 
on which account it is easily rendered tame, and 
made an interesting addition to the aviary ; but it 
does not appear that any success has hitherto attend- 
ed the attempts to propagate, it out of the warm cli- 
mates of which it is a native. Upon the base of the 
upper mandible of the male (and probably confined 
to the season of love) is a round fleshy tubercle, 
analogous to that we have stated as existing in the 
Carpophaga tenea, and Carpophaga oceanica, a fact 
peculiarly interesting, and which serves to keep up 
the connexion between these otherwise widely sepa- 
rated groups. 
The length of the Nicobar is nearly fifteen inches. 
The bill, which is rather slender, and the tip but 
little deflected, is about an inch and a quarter long. 
The whole of the plumage, with the exception of the 
tail, which is pure white, and the quills, which are 
deep blackish-blue, with greenish reflections, is of a 
rich metallic green, changing with every play of light 
aviary of Mr Beale at Slacao, that the Nicobar pigeons 
“ were usually seen perched upon the trees, even upon the 
loftiest branches. They build their rude nests, and rear 
their young upon trees, similar to all the pigeon tribe.” — 
BenneCs Wand. ii. p. 64. 
