Tas. LVIII.
VINAGO MILITARIS.

Tue group Vinago may be considered as including those Pigeons whose strong short tarsus and broadly
palmed feet indicate them to be constant frequenters of the branches of trees: such are doubtless the habits
of the present and the former species, whose food is said to consist principally of grain, the seeds of vetches
and other wild plants, the tops of tender vegetables, &c.

The locality of Vinago militaris, as mentioned in the preceding page, is widely extended, as it has been
received equally from the northern and western coasts of the Indian continent. The specific name mzlitaris
has been given to it from the resemblance of the mark on its breast to a shield. We are indebted to
Colonel H. J. Bowler for the following interesting particulars respecting this bird: ‘‘ The present as well as
the preceding species, together with several others, are known to the natives of India by the general name
of the Green Pigeon: they frequent gardens and inhabit mango groves and banian trees (the Ficus Indicus),
to the thick foliage of which they seem particularly attached, and when sheltered therein their plumage so
nearly accords with the general colour and tint of the leaves, that they are with difficulty perceptible. Those
varieties which are found on the western coast feed principally on the berry of the Sago Palm and the fruit
(fig) of the Micus Indicus. At the season when this fruit and the mango are ripe, they are good eating,
although the flesh has rather a strong game flavour much resembling the English Plover.”

Although this bird has been already made known to science, it has been thought proper to illustrate it in the
present work, as well for the purpose of recording it as an inhabitant of the higher parts of India, from which
+t has not hitherto been received, as because ‘t was considered desirable to point out a contrast between the
present well-known and the foregoing novel species. ce

The top and sides of the head are ash colour; the neck and chest golden with a greenish tinge ; the
shoulders vinaceous purple; the whole of the back and wing-coverts olive green ; quills blackish brown
margined along their outer edge with yellow; the tail dark ash colour; the under surface of the body is pale

olive green ; the thighs bright yellow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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