Some Doves; I Have K^pt. 71 



lutely indifferent to cold, as the thermometer in their enclosure 

 fell on one occasion to within 4 decrees of zero. A very 

 fine coloured plate by -Mr. GoodchikI of the Australian 

 Green-wing- (C chrysGchlora) appeared in the " Avicultural 

 Magazine" for March, 1914. It dilTcrs from the Indian 

 species principally in the absence of wliite feathers on the 

 head and fac- of the male. To see these birds at their best 

 they should bj kept ui a sunny aviary. Known in India as 

 the Indiar, Bronze-winged Dove. 



Grfen I'Kun Pi(;r:o.\' {Splirnoccrcus sphcniinis). Once 

 again I am indebted to our I-kiitor for the possession 

 of a pair of these most interesting pigeons. Coming" as they 

 do from the Himalayas, the kind of winter we h;ive had this 

 year suits them admirably, and I t!limk that there should be 

 a reasonable chance of their nesting "this spring. A line col- 

 oured plate of a pair of these birds by Mr. Goodchild ap- 

 pearec, in the '■ A\'icultural ^lagazine " for March, 191 2. In 

 genera.' colour the)- resembh the Indian (ireen Parrots. The 

 covk difl<rs from the hen in ha\ing; the back and wings 

 maroon red. The feathers on the tianks and thigh coverts 

 in both se.\es ^re dark green, with ])ale yellow edges. As 

 their leg-^ are short, this has a curious effect, and gives them 

 the appearance of wearing broadh' stiiped trousers. Mr. 

 I'clham :S. Uoclworth, of the Bombay Xaiural History Museum, 

 gives a. very uueresting account of their wild life. It appears 

 that the natives believe that they never settle upon the 

 ground, and seldom drink water. I have had my birds now 

 for several mouths, and I have never once seen them at their 

 drinking \'esse. and only once have I seen one of them on 

 the ground. This was after it had been suddenly startled, and 

 it had failed to make good its hold upon the wire netting. 

 It seemed to be lielpless on the ground, and it suffered me 

 to pick It up. in the branches of trees used as perches, they 

 are almost as active as parrots. I feed them on boiled rice, 

 soaked maize and banana. It is probably that this diet renders 

 water unnecessary. 



[Both imy cock and hen drink twice daily and come to 

 the ground freely for food!, as their food vessels are placed 

 there, but they spend their time otherwise amid the branches. 



