Practical Bird-Keeping. — III. Pigeons and Doves. 171


on each side of the upper breast, the shoulder butts white. This

dove does well in captivity, but it is not often that young ones

are reared. It seems to feel the cold, but not to such an extent

but that it can winter out of doors if protection is given.


The Red Ground or Red Mountain Dove.


(Geotrygon montana .)


This dove is getting increasingly rare. It is small in size

and the sexes differ in colour, the cock being rufous red shading

to buff on the under parts, whilst in the hen the red is replaced

by olive brown. It is a timid bird and seems to have no idea

of standing up for its own rights. A hen I had was fond of

fruit, grapes and tomato, as well as seed.


Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Phlogcenas luzonica ).


This is a very striking looking bird. It is a fair size,

sturdy in shape, with long legs. The upper parts are a beautiful

blue-grey with darker bars, alternating with lighter ones across

the wings, making four bars in all. The forehead, throat, and

breast are pure white, and in the centre of the latter part is an

irregular shaped patch of blood-ied feathers. The back of the

neck and shoulders has a lovely sheen of dark opal green, the

eye is soft purple. This pigeon is fairly easy to keep, but I find

it needs warmth and a dry floor in winter, as it spends much of

its time on the ground, and if exposed to a wet and cold surface

its feet may become diseased. It will often nest, but it is very

seldom the eggs are hatched or any young reared.


The Wonga-Wonga Pigeon (Lcucosarcia picata).


A very large bird, slate-grey, black and white in colour.

It is very handsome, with lead-grey breast patches and white

chest, covered at the side of the body with triangular white spots.

It is too large and heavy a bird to keep in a small aviary, though

those I had were of a peaceful disposition.


The Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica).


This strangely-shaped bird belongs to the family of

Hackled Pigeons (sub-family Caloenadince). It is a large heavy

bird, its prevailing colour metallic green and bronze. The neck

feathers are hackled, giving the bird a most curious look, almost

as if it had got wet through and had never properly dried. I



