(51)   GEOPELIA  STRIATA   (Linn.).

THE BARRED GROUND-DOVE. (Plate 26.)

Turtur sinensis striatus Briss., Orn., I p. 107 (1760). Turtur indicus striatus Briss., Orn., I p. 109 (1760). Columba striata Linn., Syst. Nat., I p. 282 (1766); Lath., I. Orn., II p. 608. Columba sinica Linn., Syst. Nat., I p. 284.  Columba malaecensis Gm., Syst. Nat., II p. 788 (1788); Lath., I. Orn., II p. 612. Columba bantamensis Sparm., Mus. Carl. (1788). Columba lunulata Bonn. Enc. Meth., p. 251 (1790). Geopclia striata Gray, List Gen. B., p. 58 (1840); Blyth, Cat.  B.M.A.S.B., p. 235; Jerdon, B.I., III p. 486; Hume, Str. Feath.. Ill p. 323; Hume and Dav., ib., VI p. 423; Hume, ib., VIII p. 110; id., Cat. no. 797, ter; Oates, B. Brit. Burma, II p. 298 ; Salvadori, Cat. B.M., XXI p. 458; Blanf., Avi. Brit. I., TV p. 52; Sharpe, Hand-List, I p. 80; Oates, Cat. Eggs B.M., I p. 101 ; Harington, B. Burma, p. 118. Finn, J.B.N.H.S., XIV p. 576; H. R. Baker, ib., XVII p. 760.

Vernacular Names.   Merboh, Ketitir, Malayan.

Description.—
Adult male. Fore-head and crown as far back as the centre of the eye ashy-grey; cheeks, chin, and throat the same but paler; crown from the centre of the eye and nape light rusty-brown; hind-neck, sides of neck, and throat and sides of breast barred blackish-brown and white, the pale bars on the upper-neck generally more or less tinged with fulvous; whole upper-plumage from neck to tail earthy-brown, each feather edged with a black bar; tail a darker brown on the central feathers which are obsoletely barred darker, the adjoining pair of feathers blackish-brown and the remaining four pairs black on the basal half and white on the terminal half, the white also extending some way down the edge of the outer web. Breast a beautiful vinous-pink, gradually changing to pale fulvous-white on the abdomen and to pure white on the under tail-coverts; flanks barred brown or black, and vinous- or fulvous-white. Wing-coverts like the back, but with a silvery tinge; quills a darker brown, except the innermost tertiaries which are like the back, and with the basal half of the inner webs chestnut; under wing-coverts barred chestnut and black.

Measurements.
Total length 8.25 to 9 in. ( = 209.4 to 228.6 mm.); wing 3.75 in. ( = 95.2 mm.) to 4 in. ( = 101.6 mm.), with an average of 3.90 in. ( = 99.0 mm.); tail 4 in. ( = 101.6 mm.) to 4.6 in. ( = 116.8 mm) ; bill at front about .48 in. ( = 12.2 mm.), and from gape about .7 in.( = 17.7 mm.); tarsus about .7 in. ( = 17.7 mm.).  "Length 8.35 to 9.25; expanse 11.75 to 12.62; tail from vent 3.62 to 4.55; wing 3.75 to 4.1; tarsus .75 to .8; bill from gape .7 to .75 ; weight 2.0 to 2.25 oz." (Davison).Female.   Similar to the male.

Measurements.
The same as in the male, the largest and smallest birds in the Museum Collection are both females, the former with a wing of 4.1 in. ( = 104.1 mm.), and the latter of 3.70 in. ( = 92 mm.). Hume, it should be noted, makes out the female to average a good bit larger than the male: " Length 8.62 to 9.5; expanse 12.25 to 12.62; tail from vent 4.0 to 4.45; wing 3.75 to 4.5; tarsus .7 to 1.76; bill from gape .65 to .75; weight 1.75 to 1.25 ozs." Colours of soft parts. " Irides bluish-white; orbital skin pale bluish- grey ; bill dull, pale plumbeous; front of tarsus dull pale purple; back dirty pink" (Davison). " Iris white ; legs dull purple ; bill dull blue ; orbital skin ultramarine " (Everett).

A bird from Java, unsexed but probably a female, has the whole head reddish-brown, the fore-head more brightly rufous, and the feathers about the vent are broadly splashed with the same. This colour may be due to a stain from some fruit getting on to the bill and fore-head and thence to the other feathers on the bird preening itself. Young. Similar to the adult, but the banding on the sides of the breast and flanks is continued quite across the breast and abdomen; the pink tint on the former part of the plumage is ab sent, being replaced by dull pale rufous on the pale bars.

Distribution.
This little Ground-Dove is found in the extreme south of Tenasserim, whence it ranges south throughout the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago, as far east as the Phillipines and the west of New Guinea; it is also found in Siam, but is apparently rare there and was never met with by Count Guildenstolpe during his expedition in 1911-12. It is not indigenous to, but has been introduced into, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Round Island, Reunion, and St. Helena, and appears to thrive in these various climates.

Nidification.
There is practically nothing on record in regard to the nesting of this little Dove. The British Museum Collection contains only one egg which is described by Oates as "slightly glossy," and measures .82 by .64 in. ( = 20.8 by 16.3 mm.).My own collectors in Tenasserim failed to obtain the nest and eggs, but I have received the latter from Mr. W. A. T. Kellow, from near Perak, and from other collectors in the Malay States. All the eggs in my collection are very regular ovals, equal at both ends. The texture is fine, but not very glossy, and the shell very stout for so tiny an egg. The extremes in length are .93 and .78 in. ( = 23.6 and 19.8 mm.), and in breadth .70 and .56 in. ( = 17.7 and 14.2 mm.). The difference in size between the largest and smallest egg is very remarkable, and I am inclined to think my smallest pah must be quite abnormal.   The average is .87 by .65 in. ( = 22.1 by 16.6 mm.).

The nest is said to be a tiny platform of thin twigs and bents, only about four inches in diameter, and most flimsy in character, placed on low scrubby bushes. The eggs in my collection were taken in January, February, and June.

Although this is such a very common little Dove, notes on its habits are very meagre. Davison says : " The general habits of this little Dove are the same as those of tigrina, except that it never occurs in flocks, being always found singly or in pairs. It keeps about cultiva- tion and feeds on the ground, walking about here and there and picking up seeds. Its note is quite unlike that of any of the other Doves that I am acquainted with, and sounds like ' kok-akurr-kurr,' soft, but repeated several times. It is very common about cultivation in the Wellesly province."

Robinson, in the Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums, notes : " The Barred Ground Dove is generally distributed throughout the Peninsula, but is never found in high forest and but rarely in Bluker (?). It is perhaps commoner in the East than in the West, and in the coastal districts rather than the more inland ones. It is usually very common in coffee cultivation, where it is found singly or in pairs, searching the ground for seeds, etc. It is a very favourite cage bird amongst the Malays, and high prices are paid for ' lucky birds,' lucky or the reverse being diagnosed by counting the number of scales on the toes."

It is regularly imported also into India as a cage-bird, where it is equally popular. I have often seen it in large cages with numerous other kinds of birds, and it appeared to live with them in perfect amity, so that it cannot be as quarrelsome a Dove as most of its kind.

They build and lay freely enough in captivity and are hardy little birds, thriving in almost any climate,^e^ding on any grain or seed, or quite content with bread and milk, suttoo, or other substitute for their proper diet.