720 
CAEPOPHAGA ^NEA. 
poitions of the low country. Proceeding inland from Galle it is first met with heyond Baddegama and in 
the forest of Kottowe, becoming more numerous towards the Oodogamma and Opate hills, in the higher parts 
of winch, however, it is not so common as in the valleys. Further north, some miles inland, east of Kalatura 
and Bentota, it becomes plentiful, and continues so all through the Pasdun and lower portions of the Kukul 
Korale to Saffragam, which is its great stronghold in that part of the island, and in which (above Gillymally) 
I have traced it to an elevation of about 1500 feet. In the south-east it avoids the scrub-country along the 
sea-coast, except where it is cleft by the forest-clothed banks of the rivers ; but it is very abundant at the back 
of this region up to the base of the Uva hills. In the Friars-Hood group it is common. In the northern half 
of the island it is pretty evenly distributed throughout the jungle which covers the whole of that part. 1 have 
met with it in all parts which I have visited, and Mr. Parker has found it in the Madewatchiya and Anarad- 
hapura districts. Along the rivers in the Seven Korales it is abundant. 
I have never been able to obtain any information concerning this bird being found in the higher jungles ; 
I have not myself seen it above an altitude of 1500 feet j and Air. Bligh has not met with it in the higher 
regions of the Kandyan zone; numerous inquiries which I have made have all failed in disclosing any locality 
in the coffee-districts inhabited by it. I conclude, therefore, when Layard writes that its “ great haunt is 
certainly the mountain-zone,” he refers to the base of the Kandyan hills, and not the upper parts. 
According to Jerdon it is not at all a mountain species in India ; he remarks that he cannot call to mind 
having seen it as high as 2000 feet, and that it is more abundant at elevations from the level of the sea up to 
1000 feet. This is exactly the ease in Ceylon. “ It is only found,” he writes, “ in forest countries, and is 
very abundant in the Alalabar jungles, in Central India, Alidnapore, and the wooded countries to the north- 
east generally.” It appears to avoid the Deccan entirely, passing up to the north-east from the forests of 
Southern India, and inhabiting the Godaveri valley, Orissa, Jaipur, Smgbhum, Maunbhum, Midnapnr, and 
the Eajmehal hills. It does not appear to extend across to Western India at all. Mr. Blauford says that he 
did not meet with it in the valleys of the Nerbudda or Taptee; and Mr. Ball did not meet with it in M^estern 
ChotaKagpur even ; further south, however, its range extends up the Godaveri valley to Siroucha and Chanda; 
but this appears to be only an isolated branch of extension, and northward of this river its visit to the west 
would be defined by a line drawn through the Jaipur district to Sambalpur, and thence northwards through 
eastern Chota Nagpur to the Eajmehal hills. How far it extends through the forests at the base of the 
I'V estern Ghfi,ts towards the north I am unable to say ; but the Rev. Dr. Fairbank did not meet with it about 
Alahabaleshwar, which proves pretty clearly that is confined to the south. Northward of the Eajmehal 
lulls we find it in Nepal, and thence eastwards into Cachar, where Air. Inglis says it is common, breeding during 
the rains. Southward we find it in the Arrakan hills, and eastward in Pegu. Mr. Oates records it as common 
both in the hills and the plains, whence it extends to the sea-coast at the mouths of the Irrawaddy, where 
Air. Armstrong tells us it occurs sparingly. In Tenasserim it is generally distributed, according to Messrs 
Hume and Davison, throughout the better-wooded portions of the province, but does not ascend the hills. In 
the Andaman group Mr. Davison found it abundant in December; but later on, in April, it had become 
scarcer, owing, as he suggests, to the then scarcity of wild fruits which abound in December and January. 
Tdiroughout the Alalay peninsula we may conclude that it occurs in suitable places, which brings us to 
Sumatra, of which island it is an inhabitant, although, with our scanty data concerning the avifauna of this 
great island, it w'ould be impossible to speak with certainty concerning its distribution there. Both RafHes 
and M allace record it, probably from the southern coast ; but Mr. Buxton did not meet with it in Lampoug. 
The latter naturalist and Horsfield notice its occurrence in Java, and in Borneo it has been found in Baiijer- 
massing, Sarawak, and other maritime provinces. From Java eastward it probably extends through all the 
chain of islands towards Timor, for it has been obtained in Lombok, Sumbawa, and Flores. From Borneo 
towards the north it ranges into Palawan, and thence through the Philippine group. In Hainan, Swinhoe 
procured it in the central and western portions of the island. Data are now desirable concerning the vast 
stretch of country between Burmah and this latter locality, which it doubtless will be found to inhabit. 
Habits — ‘^Alaha nila goya,” the finest Pigeon in Ceylon, is a denizen of wild forest and jungle- 
clad districts, the fruit-hearing trees of which afford it such ample sustenance that in some parts of the island it 
abounds to an equal extent with the very numerous Maroon-backed Pigeon presently to be noticed. Though 
