Notes on my birds at Villers-Bretonneux in 1916. 71


The Doves have not been very successful in their breeding,

sharing, as they do for the most part the pheasants’ avaries, and

not having the necessary privacy and quiet.


Many are still unmated, owing to the German invasion in

1914 ; Bleeding-hearts, Crested Doves, Smith’s Bronzewings, Green¬

winged Doves, etc., etc., of which only one sex remains. Certain

species have been put together, from which perhaps some curious

.hybrids may be produced.


The Crowned and Victoria Crowned Pigeons, as well as the

Nicobar, have not nested. Columba speciosa (Fair Pigeon) continues

to rear a numerous progeny with its mate, G. maculosa.


The Ked-crowned Pigeons (Pigeon hollandais) are in magni¬

ficent condition, but always unsociable. These are beautiful birds,

and very robust, provided they have access to an open-air flight.

They have thrived now for three years upon rice boiled in milk,

bananas, and crushed hemp-seed.


The Macaws and Cockatoos are in the open air from April

till November, and live in a friendly manner, except for a few harm¬

less disputes. The Macaws stand cold nights admirably and long

rainy days without shelter. The Cockatoos—Leadbeater’s, Goffin’s,

and Rosy—do not mind the winter.


Buffon’s Touracos have reared a young one under the same

conditions as in 1915, after having destroyed their first clutch

of eggs, and as I write (October, 1916), a third clutch has been laid.

The 1915 bird equals its parents in beauty, but it is still difficult

to distinguish its sex.


The Toucans have lived for more than three years, and are in

fine plumage ; they do not leave their large compartment in the

heated corridor.


The five species which I possess have all the same habits, and

are very tame and amusing.


These birds are not infrequently ailing, remaining for several

days without eating, and their feathers ruffled, having no power to

hold on to the perches.


Other species of birds would succumb under such circum¬

stances, but the Toucans, on the contrary, recover after a few days,

so that I am not very anxious when it is reported to me that one is ill.



