32 Practical Bird-Keeping. 



but this young bird grew and throve most wonderfully under my 

 care, which was almost from tlie time of hatching. It was a 

 well-feathered bird when I put it back in the nest. As food for 

 hand-rearing a young bird I should give the following articles, 

 all moistened and made soft with water : Spratts' malt milk and 

 pepsinated puppy meal for the first day or two (both these articles 

 are in powder form, like flour, and can be mixed to any con- 

 sistency), then "soft food" in addition, mixed with biscuit, and, 

 later still, soaked small seeds. 



Doves have the reputation of being quarrelsome and, in 

 some individual cases it is true, but this is the case witli«// kinds 

 of birds, their tempers vary just as much as human beings do. 

 I think the great secret in doves living happily together (where 

 more than one pair is kept) is to find out which birds will agree, 

 and having once found a peaceable combination, not to disturb 

 it. Some time ago I had four pairs of different doves all nesting 

 in one small aviary ; further, they carried their amiability so far 

 as to feed each others young ones. On the other hand, if there 

 is going to be trouble it will show itself at once, and it is better 

 to separate the birds straight awa\% for nothing will induce them 

 to be friendly if they have made up their minds to be the reverse. 

 I look on doves and pigeons as very pleasant birds to keep, 

 and their harmonious colouring grows on one very much. Their 

 different notes, too, are very interesting, for many birds have 

 varied coos to express their moods. 



I have no space to touch on sickness, but with auy sick 

 bird I think heat is most important, for an ailing bird so quickly 

 grows cold, and for this purpose a stove in the aviary is invalu- 

 able. In summer, 2i. flat hot-water bottle in a box with a bed 

 of hay might be used, or I have sometimes thought a chicken 

 "foster-mother" would make a good "hospital cage." 



This is only a bare outline as to the keeping of doves; 

 they are a family of birds long neglected, and there is still very 

 much to learn about them. There are hundred of kinds never 

 yet imported, for the dealers get very little encouragement, but 

 to anyone with enterprise and ample means at their disposal 

 there is a grand opening to bring some entirely new knowledge 

 to aviculture, of a very pleasant kind. 



