3°S



Reviews.



in the early pait of the 19th Centuiy. Temmiiick, Provost and

Bonaparte all gave us fine illustrated volumes. But we have not

waited in vain : it has never before been the writer’s privilege to

find in any book devoted to birds, such careful attention given

to all the little details which go to the making of success, every¬

thing is carefully explained ; for example, not only are we told

that the birds like biscuits and pea nuts, but we learn the best

methods of preparing these articles and where to get them ;

attention is also called to the fact that many Doves are un¬

doubtedly partly insectivorous; only a few years ago a new

species of Haplopelia was recorded in The Ibis as having a large

number of gnats in its gizzard.


The first chapter gives details of the author’s aviaries,

which will be found of great value, as showing the sort of

enclosures best suited to the requirements of Doves and Pigeons.

The next two chapters give accounts of the arrangements for

nesting purposes, the best way of sending birds away, many

valuable hints are given as to the best treatment for sick birds,

and good methods for handling a bird, for everyone who has held

a Dove or Pigeon knows how hard it is not to pull out a handful

of feathers.


The bulk of the book is taken up by concise accounts of

some forty species, all of which have been kept by the author,

each account is conveniently arranged under headings : “ Habitat,

Length, Colouring, Wild Life, Life in Captivity,” so that any

particular point can be referred to without having to read through

the whole article.


On the last page but one, mention is made of a“Frau-

cisian ” Dove, which would appear to be the rarely-imported

Chanicepelia cruziana, better known as the Garnet-banded Ground-

dove, while the so-called “Malayan Ring-doves” are evidently

the handsome and rare Double-ringed Turtle-dove {Turtur biior-

quaius).


The book is profusely illustrated, mostly by excellent

photographs taken by the author, most careful acknowledgment

being made when this is not the case. Perhaps the book would

have been improved in appearance and been more handy if it

had been 8vo. size, the one or two full-page illustrations of

aviaries would only have had to be very slightly reduced.



