24- Succi'ssfitl Brccdiiii^ of llw li'liifc-hreasted Dove. 



foot of the nest without her Ijeing' disturbed, or causing" her to 

 leave the nest. 



Tliey came over in a consignment of Australian birds, 

 though their native habitat is New Ciuinea; 1 was assured they 

 were a true pair. l)ut was much amused later on, when talking 

 to their owner, to hear that he thought they were two cocks; 

 he had evidently not noticed the above mentioned difference. 

 They had been well cared for on their long journey; and were 

 ir good condition, except that one had its wing cut short right 

 across the primary flights. 



On arrival I gave them their liberty in my large aviary, 

 thinking they would ])e all right, but found the cut-winged bird 

 cHml:)ed u]) as high as possible, and then went bump on the 

 floor of the aviary when anyone was near, so I had to cage it 

 i;ntil the flights were renewed. Ths took some weeks, but 

 may have induced the inclination to breed. When the power of 

 fiiglit was restOTed, the weather being fine, this bird was given 

 i*^s lil)erty, and the two l)irds evidently enjoyed the reunion. 



The desire to nest was innnediately manifest; a site was 

 soon chosen, a well-sheltered spot in a creeper growing thickly 

 .»!■ one of the roof-standards of the out-door flight. Here they 

 constructed the usual flimsy dove nest, consisting of a few thin 

 twigs loosely put together. 'J'he hen sat closely, but the cock 

 was very wild and used to dash off when anyone came near the 

 aviary. I am convinced one young bird was hatched out. but 

 1 never saw it. though 1 saw them feeding for a few days and 

 then they deserted the nest and 1 found only an egg there ; both 

 V'est and egg were of typical dove-type. I think the cock must 

 liave dragged out the young bird in one of his wild rushes. 



Almost at once they went to nest again, selecting a pre- 

 cisely similar position for the nest, but this time it was the 

 corner, creeper-clad post, l)y the door of the aviary, and, I must 

 -ay, 1 had very faint hopes of any young being reared in such a 

 position, considering the wildness of the cock bird. However, 

 fortune favoured me and all went well. The apology for a 

 nest was duly completed, and two eggs deposited therein. The 

 hen was very steady, sitting closely, in fact, never left her eggs 

 or young except on one occasion when they were just about 

 readv to flv. and T alarmed her bv undue curiositv — I badlv 



