232



Miss Rosie Alderson,



food or nourishment when young and growing? My two young

Bleeding Hearts, for instance, that I bred this year, were soon far

finer birds than either of their parents. None of my three wild-

caught Violet Doves can equal this hand-reared bird. I wrote to

the friend who had kindly supplied me with these doves to see if

he had still another. Fortunately he had just one. It was, he

said, healthy, but in terrible plumage, having only just been

received, and had been plucked on the voyage by some other-

bird. I said I would gladly have it, and so the dove was sent to

me. It was certainly almost featherless, and when I put my

hand in the hamper, it gave me quite a shock to feel only flesh,

and hardly any feathers. This same bird is now in perfect

plumage. I kept her to herself until she was in good con¬

dition, and then put her in the same aviary as my hand-reared

bird. The poor fellow, who had been looking very lonely and

drooping for some months, took to his new companion at once.

They had several nests last season, but though the eggs were

fertile, and they sat well, I was not fortunate enough to rear any

young ones. I suppose a good pair of Violet Doves would be

worth at least 50/-, as they are very rare, and all I have known

were imported privately.


The colouring of this dove is very pretty. The back is

olive green, the breast creamy white, the front of the head

greyish, and the neck gorgeous with metallic colours, which look

most beautiful when the bird coos and bends his head to the

ground, as if he were making a most profound obeisance. There

is a patch on each side of the bird’s breast of light maroon,

from which I suppose its name is derived. In shape the Violet

Dove is rather sturdy, with long legs. When once in condition

it always seems to look in good plumage, but it is very lightly

feathered, and the least touch seems to bring the feathers out.

Both my birds delight in cut up pea or “monkey” nuts, and

always look up for some when I go into the aviary.


DEEAEANDE’S FRUIT PIGEON.


Vinago delalandei.


The only specimen I have ever seen of this lovely

Fruit Pigeon belonged to a friend. It was sent her by a



