The INDIAN RING-DOVE (_Streptopelcia risoria_) has a somewhat shorter and
less decidedly rounded tail than the Turtle Dove. The plumage of this
species is principally of creamy yellow, darkest on the back, and with the
head, throat, and belly of a light shade; the neck is decorated with a
black collar; the quills are of a blackish hue; the eye is light red, the
beak black, and the foot carmine-red. The length of this bird is twelve
and its breadth twenty inches; the wing measures six inches and a half,
and the tail five inches.
The western part of India, Ceylon, Yemen, Arabia, and a great portion of
Eastern Africa form the habitat of the Indian Ring-dove. Reichenbach, it
is true, discredits the statement of Le Vaillant and other writers who
have described this bird as being met with in Africa, and supposes that
they mistake for it a nearly-allied species: we can, however, positively
assert, on our own experience, that this Ring-dove has been observed not
only near Aden, but in Africa, namely, in Samchara and the forests near
the Blue River, and that in extraordinary numbers. We are certain we are
not mistaken as to the identity of the species, as we killed and closely
examined many African specimens in their native haunts, and found them in
every respect like such as inhabit Asia.
[Illustration: TURTLE DOVES.]
This species is generally diffused throughout India, where it frequents
hedges and trees in the neighbourhood of cultivated districts, and also
low bush or reed jungle; it is also found in Ceylon, but is rare in
Malabar and the countries east of the Bay of Bengal. Layard notices its
partiality for euphorbia bushes, on which, he says, it generally builds
its nest.
Like the other Doves, it breeds in the plains at all seasons, it also
appears to ascend the hills near Mussoora to breed there in spring. The
"coo," says Blyth, is quite different from that of the domestic Turtle
Dove, and may be expressed by "kookoo-koo, kookoo-koo."
[Illustration: DWARF PIGEON (_Chalcopeleia Afra_).]