70 Some Doves J Ihive Kepi. 



tliis they nc\-cr did. Xcilhcr did T n1 iiin' lime src tliem dis- 

 playing, nlthougli on rare oci asions f Ivard one of them roo- 

 ipg a truly mournful sound. Tlu'}' spent most of their tune 

 marching around and around at a \cry cpn't k jiare and look- 

 ing as if they had some \-ery imi)ortant business in hand. 

 The blood-red stain on the breast always caused a remark 

 amongst my \isitors, and it was difficult to make them believe 

 that the birds vven^ not injured. \\"h'-n the first pair arrived. 

 I was away from home and my man unpacked them. 

 He promptly sent me word that two pigeons had arrived,^ but 

 ' that they had been badly hurt on the journey, as their breasts 

 were covered with blood. He did not discover his mistake 

 until 1 returned I 



Bronze-wing Dovi {Plians chaleopicra). This, the 

 well known Squatter Pigeon, is the largest and quite the 

 steadiest doves I have kept. It is a handsome addition to 

 anyone's collection. They are free breeders and very hardy, 

 keeping at it all the year round. A pair of strong 

 young ones left the nest here on Xmas Day, and must havr 

 been rn the nest when the thermometer was registering i6 

 degree.^ of frost. It is a wise plan to separate the sexes for 

 a month or two in the winter. Like the Violet Doves they 

 will eat earthworms freely, and are very fond of mealworms^ 

 and I certainly think that whilst they have young, a few of 

 these every day are a help. 



Brush Bronzk-winc; Dove {Pliaps rlesrans}. This 

 pretty bird is a good deal smaller than its cousin P. chalcop- 

 tera, and the sexes are not alike, a great advantage 1 think 

 from an avicultural point of view. They are free breeders, 

 and quite hardy. Unfortunately they have the bad habit 

 of deserting 'their young before they can properly cater for 

 themselves, so many of their little ones perish. I thought my- 

 self lucky last season in fully rearing two pairs out of five 

 that were hatched out. After the little Diamond this is my 

 favourite dove. 



Green-winged Don i {Cludcopliaps iiuliea). Through 

 the kindness of our Edhor 1 'secured a pair of these lovely 

 Indian doves early last December, and 1 ( annot imagine a 

 more desirable bird for any aviary. They appear to be ab-so- 



