176 GARDEN AXIJ AVIAHV BIKUS. 



eyes bein.cj lar«;e and intensely dark, set oft' in many 

 cases by dark <>Tey eyelids. In some specimens, 

 however, the eyelids are pink. Tlie feet are deep 

 purple, not red or crimson as doves' feet usually are. 



Tliis Dove cannot ])e called very common in India, 

 tlionuh it is widely spread over that country, and extends 

 to Burma, China, and the Philippines. It is also found 

 in the Andamans, but is very rare in Ceylon. I 

 have oidy seen it wild myself in Dehra Dun — a 

 remarkablv uood place for Doves ; and I introduce 

 it here as a particularly desirable aviary bird. The 

 unique colouring of the cock makes him most orna- 

 mental, and the difference between the sexes makes 

 it easv to select a true pair, thus doing away 

 with the leading difficulty in breeding Doves. The 

 Red species is a particularly free breeder ; we had 

 a pair in the Calcutta Zoological Garden which bred 

 successfully in a large cage much less than six feet 

 square, which they shared with other Doves of the 

 same and other species, and a lot of other birds ! It 

 has also bred in the London Zoological Garden, and 

 would be much appreciated by amateurs in England, 

 where it is very rare as yet. 



To pcopK' who dislike the monotonous and ])en('trating 

 coo of most Doves, but admire the family never- 

 theless, this bird may be confidently recommended. 

 It can oidy express its amorous feelings by muttering, 

 which mav not be romantic, but is not annoying 

 to a third party ! I once had a cream-coloured male of 

 this species, which Mr. liutledge gave me ; except 



