28 o



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



DIAMOND DOVES, &c.


Sir,—F rom the account which Miss R. Alderson gives of the

Diamond Doves in the May number of the Magazine, it would appear as if

these pretty little Doves were generally hard to breed in this country.


I should like to know whether mv experience with them is at all

unique as I find them breed freely. I have just the one pair which are

allowed to fly about in my wired-in garden, with finches both English and

foreign, possibly altogether over a hundred birds.


During the first week in March the lieu bird built a miniature nest in

a fir tree growing in the garden and laid two eggs. I feared for the safety

of the eggs upon such an apology for a nest but they were both hatched

within a fortnight, the cock taking regular turns with the hen in incubation,

and on Monday last both young birds left the nest and are flying about

freely. In size they are not larger than a fair sized Whydali bird;

already the hen has built another nest in an adjoining fir tree, and

appears to be about to lay again.


Might I trouble you with the following questions :


1. How do you distinguish sex of Pekin Robins, and can the}' be brought


to breed in England ? I have six of these birds, been in my

aviaries over twelve mouths and no signs of nesting whatever.


2. Same as to Indigo Blue Bird.


3. Same as to Nonpareil.


4. Same as to Tanager. H. P. Rabbich.


The Jollowing reply zoas sent to Mr. Rabbich :


Diamond Doves are not difficult to breed in outdoor aviaries; though

I failed to breed them in my indoor ones : our Editor has always been able

to breed these doves without trouble.


The best way to test the sex of the Pekin Nightingale is, to imitate

the monotonous call-note of the hen: a cock almost invariably replies with

a short song-like phrase of seven to nine syllables.


The sexual differences are so slight, and the colouring and size of the

hen so variable, that (after making several mistakes in my efforts to pick

out pairs) I have concluded that the answering call of the cock is the only

absolutely sure test.


The hen has no song : the cock has a short song for a call, and a

much longer song for the delectation of himself and family.


The Pekin Nightingale has been bred more than once in captivity in

England ; probably Mr. Keulemanns the artist was one of the first (if not

the first) successful breeders. * A. G. BuTEER.



* I overlooked the last three lines of Mr. Rabbich’s letter. The Indigo Bunting and

Nonpareil differ markedly in colouring from their hens, though the former assumes almost

the female dress in winter (I believe both have been bred in aviaries). Mr. Rabbich does

not say which Tanager he refers to.—A.G.B.



