PAL AM BUS 
47 * . 
TORRIKGTONI AE 
(THE CEYLON WOOD PIGEON) 
ADULT MALE 
Length IS.5 to 14.3 inches; wing 7.7 to 8; tail 5.25; 
toe 1.2, its el aw (straight) .4; bill, to gape l.i. 
tarsus l.l; middle 
FEMALE 
Length 13.2 inches; wing 7.2; 
tail‘5; tarsus .2; bill to gape 1. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Essentially a bird of the mountain forests, this splendid pigeon Is well 
known to all Europeans In the central Province. it is very abundant in the 
Newera Ellia plateau forests, and on all the surrounding wooded slopes down 
to an elevation of about -.'000 f«-et; below this it is not numerous. 
K el a art speaks of examples being procured at Gampola, but this was in the 
days of forests; now that the whole country round that district is denuded, 
the visits of the Torrington pigeon to it must be few and far between. I 
met with it in Neweca Ellia in May, and found it plentiful In the Horton 
Plains in January; it seemed then to prefer the singular isolated groves on 
the plains to the surrounding forest, owing no doubt to a greater abundance 
of food obtaining at that time'in "the former. 
It is very numerous in the Peak forests, where I procured it under 5000 
feet, and 1 have no doubt those vast jungles stretching along the high moun¬ 
tain chains up"to the Horton Plains now form its chief stronghold. In the 
Morowak Korale 1 have killed it at low as about 2400 feet, and between there 
and the Kukkul Korale it is , 1 understand, abundant at times, 
Mr Holdsworth remarks that "it changes its locality according'to the season 
and the time at which the fruit of particular trees ripens"; he found it nu¬ 
merous at Newera Ellia at the end and beginning of the year. 
Mr Bligh has noticed that a migcatory movement takes place just previous 
to the bursting of each monsoon, which, together with its wanderings la 
search of fruit, will probably account for its somewhat periodioal°appear- 
ance in many districts. 
This species was named Torringtoniae by its discoverer. Kelaart, in coin- 
pliment to the Viscountess Torrington.’ 
HABITS , 
Frequenting, 
the mountains. 
for the most part, lofty trees in the primeval forests of 
and being of a very shy and wary disposition, this fine pi 
