158 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
The nest, as in other PigGns, is a simple platform 
of slender sticks; the eggs are oval, white, and two 
in number. The birds appear to breed by preference 
near a human habitation, and do so probably for 
the sake of the protection afforded them; for the 
Chimango and other birds of prey destroy their eggs 
and young to a large extent. 
One summer a Torcasa laid an egg in the nest of 
one of my Pigeons, built on the large horizontal 
branch of a tree at some distance from the dove- 
cote. The egg was hatched, and the young bird 
reared by its foster-parents; and when able to fly 
it took up its abode along with the other Pigeons. 
The following spring it began to separate itself from 
its companions, and would fly to the porch, and sit 
there cooing by the hour every day. At length it 
went away to the plantation, having, I believe, found 
a mate, and we saw no more of it, 
PIGMY DOVE 
Columbula picui 
Above brownish ash-colour; head and neck dove grey; wing 
feathers black; coverts and secondaries like the back, white on their 
outer edges, a band of bright blue across the tips of the lesser 
coverts; tail white, except the two central feathers, which are like 
the back; beneath pale vinaceous; throat white; under wing- 
coverts black; bill dark, feet yellow; length 6.5, wing 3.5 inches. 
Female similar but duller. 
THIS species, the smallest of our Doves, is common 
everywhere in the Plata district, where it is called 
Tortolita (Little Turtle-Dove), Azara’s name Picut 
not being known to our countrymen. 
