on Foreign Doves.



107



ever since. Alas ! that so lovely and charming a bird as the

Masked Parrakeet should have this grave fault. Yet so it is, both

my birds are as bad as any schoolboy in their search for fresh

eggs.


I do not know the worth of the Half-collared—as I have

never bought any through a dealer—but as I have never (that I

remember) seen them advertised for sale, they cannot, I think, be

very common, and I should value them at twelve shillings and

sixpence the pair.


THE SENEGAL TURTLE DOVE.


Turtur senegalensis.


This is a very sweet little African Dove. I11 size it is

midway between a Zebra Dove and a Barbary; it varies, though,

very much in size. Its general colour is bright vinous red, and

ash grey on the back. It has a collar (like the Necklace Dove)

the feathers being tipped with black and having the appearance

of small checks. In the Necklace, however, the collar is round

the back of the neck, in the Senegal round the front. This dove

is very dainty, and soon gets tame, and breeds freely in an aviary.

The young ones are also ash grey and vinous, but not so bright

as in the old birds, though they soon get the adult plumage. I

have bred some hybrids with a lien Senegal and cock Necklace,

and the young ones were handsome birds. The value of the

Senegal is about fifteen shillings a pair, though I confess I paid

twenty shillings for mine, but I bought them in ignorance of their

real value. However, they have been a very good pair, so one

must not complain. It is not a bad plan to study the weekly sale

list in the Feathered World , even if you are not actually wanting

any birds, and in this way one can learn the prices, and at what

time of year they are lowest.


INDIAN GREEN-WINGED DOVE.


Chalcophaps indica.


This dove is worth about twelve shillings a pair. It is

short and sturdily made, and is a very beautiful bird. The wings

are rich dark emerald green ; breast dark vinous ; a white

streak on the face, and the crown greyish. The beak is bright

red, the colour of sealing wax. The hen is duller in colouring



