PiGKONS AND DOVKS. 25 



by olive brown. It is a timid bird and seems to have no idea 

 of standing up for its own rights. A hen I had was fond of 

 fruit, grapes and tomato, as well as seed. 



Bleeding Heart Pigeon (^Phlogcenas luzonica). 



This is a very striking looking bird. It is a fair size, 

 sturdy in shape, with long legs. The upper parts are a beautiful 

 blue-grey, with darker bars alternating with lighter ones across 

 the wings, making four bars in all. The forehead, throat, and 

 breast are pure white, and in the centre of the latter part is an 

 irregular shaped patch of blood-ied feathers. The back of the 

 neck and shoulders has a lovely t:heen of dark opal green, the 

 eye is soft purple. This pigeon is fairly easy to keep, but I fiud 

 it needs warmth and a dry floor in winter, as it spends much of 

 its time on the ground, and if exposed to a wet and cold surface 

 its feet may become diseased. It will often nest, but it is very 

 seldom the eggs are hatched or any young reared. 



The Wonga-Wonga Pigeon {Leiuosarcia picata). 



A very large bird, slate-grey, black and white in colour. 

 It is very handsome, with lead-grey breast patches and white 

 chest, covered at the side of the body with triangular white spots. 

 It is too large and heavy a bird to keep in a small aviary, though 

 those I had were of a peaceful disposition. 



The Nicobar Pigeon {Calcejias nicobaricd). 



This strangely-shaped bird belongs to the family of 



Hackled Pigeons (sub-family CalcenadmcB). It is a large heavy 



bird, its prevailing colour metallic green and bronze. The neck 



feathers are hackled, giving the bird a most curious look, almost 



as if it had got wet through and had never properly dried. I 



have not kept the Nicobar myself, though I have seen it iu other 



aviaries ; the bird's colouring is beautiful, but its shape very 



clumsy and iniattractive. 



% * % 



Feeding. 



I give my large doves a staple diet of wheat, dari, hemp, 

 wliite millet, and a little rice. They have also a good supply of 

 pea nuts (or monkey nuts) shelled and cut into pieces, and I look 

 on this last item as being very important in keeping the birds iu 

 good condition and glossy plumage, the oil in the nut contribut- 



