Siicccssfitl Breeding of the Whiic-brcasicd Duvc. 241 



propelled, at such moments, more by its \vintj;s than by its 

 feet, for such is the extraordinary pitch of nervous excitement 

 into which the little chap is thrown that the fever is even 

 communicated to its leg's which shiver like those of a man 

 with the palsy, and are, 1 am sure, quite incapable of performing' 

 their usual functions. I have covered a lot of space in trying 

 to pay some tribute to the attractive qualities of this little bird, 

 and yet feel paiiifully conscious of the fact that I have altogether 

 and signally failed to do it justice. I can only hope then that 

 some abler pen than mine will one day be dedicated to its 

 service. 







Successful Breeding of the White-breasted Dove. 



( PhJogoenas margaritae). 

 By H. E. Bright, F.Z.S. 



Mr. Page has already given a description of these l^eautiful 

 Doves or Pigeons, so I cannot do better than quote him. He 

 calls them: " a near relative of the Bleeding- Heart Pigeon, 

 " from which, however, they widely differ in deportment and 

 " colouration, and to which we have given the trivial name of 

 " \\ nite-breasted Dove or Pigeon. The Bleeding-Heart 



" Pigeon in captivity spends most of its time upon the ground, 

 " and during two days we did not see the White-breasted 

 " u])on the ground at all. The general colouration of this 

 " S])ecies is rich vinous-cinnamon refulgent with a purplish 

 " sheen; upper eye-streak, lower eye-region, whole of the 

 " throat and breast white, narrowly margined with black; the 

 " whole of their appearance being very handsome and 

 " gorgeously beautiful " — 1 have, since Mr. Page's visit. 

 discovered a point of importance which we both niissed when 

 locking at the birds. It is the means, in my pair at all events. 

 o: distinguishing the sexes. In the male bird the white eye- 

 streak meets over the base of the beak ; in the hen bird there is a 

 narrow dividing line where the dark colour of the head runs 

 rght down to the beak, cutting through the white. I noticed 

 this while looking at the hen as she brooded her young. .She 

 was very tame at this ]')eriod. and allowed one to come within a 



