789, Columba rupestris, Pallas.
Zoog. Ross, As., pl, 25-C. livia, pied variety, Adams, Birds of India, 208.
The Blue HILL-PIGEON.
Descr.- Like intermedia, but much fighter in its plumage. Top of head, and side of face, ashy-grey; back of neck glossed with green ; wing-coverts and upper part of back fight grey ; the middle of the back white; upper tail-coverts dark ashy-grey; quills grey, with black, shafts, and darker at the tips and on the outer webs ; some of the larger wing-coverts, the winglet, and last secondaries, with a patch of greyish black, forming two indistinct curved bands ; tail dark grey at the base, broadly tipped with black, and with a broad stripe of white between these two colors; the outer tail-feathers pure white from their bases on the external web, tipped with black ; beneath, the chin is ashy-grey; the neck purple glossed, and the upper part of the breast glossy green, blending into ashy light grey on the belly, flanks, and vent; lower wing-coverts white, blending with grey towards the anterior margin of the wing.
Bill black ; cere grey; Irides red; legs pink. Length 12 ¾ inches ; extent 25 ; tall 5. Weight 7 ½ oz.
The above description is taken from Major Boys, who procured this Pigeon In Kumaon, where It Is known as the pale blue Rock- pigeon. It Is also, perhaps, as suggested by Blyth, the Hill-pigeon of Mussooree, which is said in summer to fly in small flocks to the Deyra Doon in the morning, returning to the hills in the evening; and it Is certainly the pied variety of the Blue Pigeon observed by Adams in Ladak, &c, Pallas’ bird is said to be found in Central Asia, in Daouria, In hilly and rocky places. Specimens of this race of Pigeon appear to be unknown In most of our Museums, and would be highly acceptable.
Among the races allied to the two foregoing, are C. livia of the whole of Europe, Northern Asia to Japan, and Northern Africa, which breeds in extensive societies in rocky cliffs and caverns, especially on the seashore. It is said to feed much on the tops of plants, and also on Helices. It is the origin of most of the varieties of domestic Pigeons of Europe. Bonaparte separates from it C. turricola, of the South of Europe, Persia, &c., which wants the white rump of livia, and should, therefore, very closely approach the Indian intermedia. C. Schimperi, Bonaparte, found in very numerous flocks in the fields in Abyssinia, and perhaps C. gymnophthalmos, Gray, from Senegal, also appertain to this division.
The next bird differs considerably from all the others.
Zoog. Ross, As., pl, 25-C. livia, pied variety, Adams, Birds of India, 208.
The Blue HILL-PIGEON.
Descr.- Like intermedia, but much fighter in its plumage. Top of head, and side of face, ashy-grey; back of neck glossed with green ; wing-coverts and upper part of back fight grey ; the middle of the back white; upper tail-coverts dark ashy-grey; quills grey, with black, shafts, and darker at the tips and on the outer webs ; some of the larger wing-coverts, the winglet, and last secondaries, with a patch of greyish black, forming two indistinct curved bands ; tail dark grey at the base, broadly tipped with black, and with a broad stripe of white between these two colors; the outer tail-feathers pure white from their bases on the external web, tipped with black ; beneath, the chin is ashy-grey; the neck purple glossed, and the upper part of the breast glossy green, blending into ashy light grey on the belly, flanks, and vent; lower wing-coverts white, blending with grey towards the anterior margin of the wing.
Bill black ; cere grey; Irides red; legs pink. Length 12 ¾ inches ; extent 25 ; tall 5. Weight 7 ½ oz.
The above description is taken from Major Boys, who procured this Pigeon In Kumaon, where It Is known as the pale blue Rock- pigeon. It Is also, perhaps, as suggested by Blyth, the Hill-pigeon of Mussooree, which is said in summer to fly in small flocks to the Deyra Doon in the morning, returning to the hills in the evening; and it Is certainly the pied variety of the Blue Pigeon observed by Adams in Ladak, &c, Pallas’ bird is said to be found in Central Asia, in Daouria, In hilly and rocky places. Specimens of this race of Pigeon appear to be unknown In most of our Museums, and would be highly acceptable.
Among the races allied to the two foregoing, are C. livia of the whole of Europe, Northern Asia to Japan, and Northern Africa, which breeds in extensive societies in rocky cliffs and caverns, especially on the seashore. It is said to feed much on the tops of plants, and also on Helices. It is the origin of most of the varieties of domestic Pigeons of Europe. Bonaparte separates from it C. turricola, of the South of Europe, Persia, &c., which wants the white rump of livia, and should, therefore, very closely approach the Indian intermedia. C. Schimperi, Bonaparte, found in very numerous flocks in the fields in Abyssinia, and perhaps C. gymnophthalmos, Gray, from Senegal, also appertain to this division.
The next bird differs considerably from all the others.
