On Doves Eating Insects and Worms.



397



cock and hen, and the former is the first out of the nest. This

may be taken as a general guide, though of course there are

exceptional cases. On June 24th the first young Violet Dove

ventured out of the nest. It must have been then at least a

fortnight old. The parents were in a great state of excitement,

and while “Narcissus” was left to guard the little daughter,

“Bessie” took the small sou into her sole charge. She was

intensely proud of him, and, though really a cpiiet and good-

tempered bird, in her anxiety over the young one she

became very irritable towards the other birds in the aviary.


You may imagine my pleasure in handling at last a

living baby Violet Dove. I had been away from home and only

returned the day after the young bird had left the nest. I found

it very snug and happy in a very large (lidless) box, on a bed of

hay. My brother had very thoughtfully put it in this place of

safety, and the little thing looked quite at home there. I know,

to my cost, the risks that young birds run when just out of the

nest and unprotected in an aviary. They may be drowned in

baths of water, or they may be plucked and half killed by some

other bird. Sometimes, if different pairs of Doves quarrel, they

will torment each others’ youngones—and perhaps even kill them.


(To be continued).



DOVES EATING INSECTS AND WORMS.


By A. G. Butler, Ph.D.


I believe it is not generally known, and certainly it was a

new fact to me, that Doves are not exclusively vegetarians*


In August 1902 Mr. T L. Bonstow, a gentleman from

South Africa who was visiting England to complete his education

as an engineer, wrote to me under cover as follows :—


“ Drar Sir,—I am pleased to be able to inform you that I have

brought from the Cape Colony a pair of Tambourine Pigeons and a hen

Bronze-wing Pigeon (Chalcopelia afra)\ with which I intend to present

you; will you kindly give me your address so that I can arrange to let

you have them, that is if you care to accept them : I should like to

see you.”



* Domesticated Pigeons are, however, said to be fond of curry.—A. G. B.

t We know it as the Emerald Dove.—A. G. B.



