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black. The breast and under parts are a shade lighter,. 

 the head a lovel}^ delicate blue-grey, the feet piuk, and 

 the beak lead colour. The hen is much lighter, and 

 without the blue head. 



The cooing of the cock Talpacoti sounds rather 

 plaintive and sad, something like that of a Wood- 

 Pigeon, only many times softer. 



My little pair began to build last autumn, but 

 were very unfortunate with the first nest. Having 

 placed it too near the wire in the open part of the 

 aviar\% it was destro3^ed by a cat, the eggs broken and 

 the doves very much frightened. They did not start 

 again until the spring ; since then they have done 

 well, and reared a lot of young ones. Several times 

 they nested in a bunch of bracken which was firmly 

 fastened to the wall, once or twice in a little basket, 

 and once in a small box. The cock always sat on the 

 eggs in tlie day-time, and tlie hen at night. 



After the young ones were hatched both parents 

 sat on them for about two days, then they took it in 

 turn as usual to mind them. 



Young Talpacoti Doves grow very quickly, and 

 when they leave the nest are both light-coloured like 

 their mother. 



My birds were very gentle while nesting, and 

 would let me do anything with them without flying 

 ofi" the nest. 



They live outdoors all the year round, and do not 

 seem to mind the cold. 



I make the inner part of the aviary very snug, 

 putting great bunches of dried bracken about the 

 walls for them and other birds to sleep in, so that it is 

 very warm and cosy for them, and they seem to like it 



