Miss Rosie Alderson,



236



possessing any. Last March, however, three were sent me from

Africa in the consignment I have alluded to before. Two were

cocks, the third a hen, and all three are now in splendid health

and plumage. The Tambourine is a sturdy little dove. In colour

the male bird is dark chocolate with a pure white face and

breast, and on the wings are several dark spots. The hen

bird is rather lighter in colour, and the breast and face not

nearly so snowy, but much greyer. My Tambourines stay high

up in the branches in the shelter nearly all day, but seem to

come out at night and roost in the flight in some fir boughs ;

they are very peaceable little doves, and decidedly a nice

addition to an aviary. I have never seen any offered 011 sale,

so do not know their value, but they are probably worth a good

deal, as they only seem to be imported privately.


THE STEEL BARRED OR PICUI DOVE.


Columbula picui.


This little South American Dove is very pretty and dainty¬

looking, though the colouring is very quiet. It is grey on the

back and head, shading into almost white on the face and breast,

and a steel blue bar runs across the wing, but as this band is

very dark, it does not do much to lighten up the colouring of the

bird. This dove seems to be very seldom imported, and is one of

those birds that one may have to wait for for months before one

can find an odd bird to make up a pair. I have now, after much

patient waiting, secured six specimens that I believe are three

true pairs. It has taken me some j^ears to do this, but my

original pair still flourish, and are the finest of the three.

Unfortunately the hens seem very delicate, and are much given

to laying soft-shelled eggs, though they have a good supply of

small grit and cuttle-fish bone in their aviary continually. This

dove is worth 20/- a pair.


THE CAPE OR HARLEQUIN DOVE.


QIna capcnsis.


This is a very beautiful and elegant little dove, but it is

also very lazy and inactive in an aviary. It is only imported



