Pigeons and Doves. 19 



more slender, and it has somewhat the same tyrannical dis- 

 position. Its colour is a soft drab, with a broad white band 

 running down the wing. The eye is bright orange surrounded 

 by a beautiful patch of bare sky-blue skin. The neck is metallic 

 with purple and brass sheen. 



We now come to the sub-family of the Turtle {7\ir{7Cfin(B), 

 'loeginning with the familiar 



Barbary Turtle Dove {^Tiirtur risorius). 



This dove is too well-known to need much description, and 

 yet in spite of its being so common — a pair can be bought for 

 two shillings — it is always beautiful in its coat of cream with 

 black collar and bright red eyes. These birds have become so 

 domesticated, like the Canary, that no one would think of them 

 at the present day in the light of an imported foreign bird. They 

 breed almost too easily in captivity, using any site or material ; 

 they are very long-lived, and can be ver}' readily tamed. I have 

 kept some for years as foster parents for hatching rarer doves 

 eggs, but I never found them a great success in this way; they 

 seem to find out they are being imposed upon and their interest 

 in the strange young when hatched is generally short-lived. A 

 pure white varietj' is known as the Java Dove. 



The Madagascar Turtle Dove {Tiittur pictjiratus). 

 This is a rare dove, and has not so far been kept by many 

 aviculturists. It is grey on the head and face with a checked 

 hinder neck, while its body is maroon and brown. In shape it is 

 strong and sturdy, though not a large bird. 



Half-Collared Turtle Dove {lurtur semilorgimtus). 

 A fine large bird, vinous colour (in varying shades) all 

 over. The top of the head and forehead whitish gre3\ It has a 

 black hind collar with a narrow grey edge ; the e3'es are red. 



Damara Turtle Dove (^Turtur da^naiensis). 

 Very like the Barbary Turtle, but much greyer and smaller 

 and with dark eyes instead of red. It is a common bird in its 

 own land, but seldom imported to this country. 



The Dwarf or Ruddy Turtle Dove {^Turtur Immilis). 

 A beautiful little dove, ver\^ small compared to any 

 previously described, trim and graceful in shape. The sexes are 



