332 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



The nests consist of a few sticks or sprays of lieatlier 

 placed on any convenient shelf. It is a good plan to turn 

 these beautiful little birds out in May, and take them 'in- 

 doors again towards the middle or end of September. 



The Crested Dove is a handsome and most graceful 

 creature ; it is about the size of a common Barbary dove> 

 and has an upstanding ])ointed crest about 1^ inches long ; 

 it is grey and white, with a patch of metallic green on the 

 wings. If treated as advised for the preceding, it is a very 

 free breeder, but it cannot stand cold. By the expedient 

 of transferring the eggs to a couple of Barbary doves, as 

 many as eighteen or twenty young ones may be obtained 

 from one pair in the season, without any visible deteriorating 

 effect on the bir<ls themselves ; but they should be allowed 

 to hatch and rear the last pair themselves. 



The Gheen-Win'GEI) Pigeon, or Dove is the counterpart 

 of its Indian namesake, but may be distinguished from it 

 Ijy being a little larger, and having more white over the eye. 



The Bronze- Winged Pigeon is a much bigger bird than 

 any of the preceding. It is not gregarious, each pair 

 keeping together, but in certain localities it is sufficiently 

 numerous. Tlie front of tlie head is buff, the neck grey, 

 the face phim colour, the upi)er parts of the body brown, 

 and the wing coverts are distinguished by green spots, with 

 a bronzed or metallic reflection ; the breast is purple, witli 

 a tinge of brown. The legs and feet are bright red, and 

 the eyes hazel. 



In size it equals tlie laigest of the domesticated breeds, 

 has a broad back, and rather short legs. 



It will breed freel}' in confinement if protected from ex- 

 treme cold, and maj' be fed like the ordinary inmates of 

 the dovecote. 



The WoNGA-WoNGA PiGEON has long borne the reputa- 

 tion of being an excellent table bird. It is a little larger 



