244 Sitcccssfitl Hrccdiitg of the W hitc-hrcastcd Dove. 



I have found them quite i^ood tempered with other doves, 

 of which there are a i^ood numljer in the aviary, not interfering^' 

 with them in any way, nor have the other doves molested them. 



[As Mr. Bri.^ht quotes me, 1 may l^e permitted to add a 

 few hues — the description quoted is a very sketchy one, and 

 even at that was taken under g'reat difficulty, for they were 

 very wild, aiid a near ap])roach was impossible — and the coloura- 

 tion of some parts was only perceptible durin,^' their wild dashes 

 from one part of the aviary to another, so, for comparison 

 nuri)oses, I append their description as !..;"iven in the Brit. Mus. 

 Cat. \'o\. xxi., taken, of course, from skins: — 



•■ Adult Male: Upper part of head, upper hind neck, and a sub- 

 " ocular hand from the liase of tlie lower mandi1)le to tlie nape of the 

 " neck black : lores, sides of the foreiiead, superciliary strii)e, tliroat and 

 '■ crop region pure white; feathers of lower hind neck, mantle, upper back, 

 ■■ scapulars, and upper wing-coverts brown-black with beautiful ])urple 

 " edges; rumj) l)rown-black with purple reflections; lower breast, abdomen 

 " and under tail-coverts slate-black, the feathers on the sides of the 

 "breast with purplish edges; cjuills, primarx-coverts and under wing- 

 ■ covcils brow^n-black : under surface of the quills slate-lilack ; tail black; 

 '•bill black; feet dull brown-red; iris black (D'Alberlis). Total length 

 " aliout 9^ inches, wing 5^ inches." 



Some of the discrepancy is the difference between life 

 nnd death, the remainder is accounted for by the difference of 

 having a skin in the hand and desci ibini.;' the bird as it disported 

 in the aviary. Under the play of lii.;ht the colouration was as 

 described at the beginning' of these notes — purple edges 

 becoming merged under the conditions into a general sheen, 

 which appeared as it flew to be strongest on hind neck, lower 

 back and sides of breast. When at rest under the shelter roof 

 very little purple could be seen from the nearest point it allowed 

 :■'' to approach. I congratulate our member, not only upon 

 liie possession of a rare and beautiful species, but also upon his 

 hick with and management of them — it is a niedal well 

 earned. — W. T. P.\(;e. I 



-O— 



