86 INDIAN PIGEONS AND DOVES 
‘“‘By about the end of September the Koklas appeared to be full- 
grown ; and their irides, which were hitherto brown or greyish brown, now 
assumed the characteristic coloration of the adult bird, viz., a pale blue 
ring followed by an outer ring of red. As far as I can now recollect, the 
birds had, up to this, uttered no note of any kind. As the migratory 
period of this species had now arrived, I was anxious to see whether my 
birds would exhibit those symptoms which are usually displayed by 
roving birds when in confinement, but no such indications were 
observed. The Koklas were as dull and inactive as ever, and seemed 
quite reconciled to their home. 
‘Towards the latter end of the following November, the cock began 
uttering his notes, but these were incomplete, or, in the language of bird- 
fanciers, he was only ‘recording.’ These ‘half’ notes were generally 
uttered late in the evenings between seven and eight p.m. 
“‘ During the winter the birds throve excellently. Their diet still 
consisted of pieces of plantains, which they would accept sitting on their 
perches, and only from the hand of their mistress. If the fruit was placed 
in the cage it was never touched. They were fed about four or five times 
a day. They always drank water from a cup, which, like their food, had 
to be held up to their mouths. When hungry, the birds always became 
very active, hopping about from perch to perch and peering anxiously 
at their mistress, if she happened to be standing near their cage. If no 
notice was taken of them, or she walked away from their cage without 
feeding them, they would settle down into their usual lethargic condition, 
but immediately renewed their activities on catching sight of her; the 
presence of strangers or of others in the house was entirely ignored by 
the birds. 
‘“‘ Spring had now come, and the Koklas which were still sharing 
their cage with the Doves, began to get unusually active. The cock kept 
chasing the hen from perch to perch, and constantly uttered his melodious 
notes, which were now complete. 
“Remembering the old adage that ‘two is company,’ and hoping 
that under such a condition the Koklas might be induced to form a 
matrimonial alliance, they were separated from the Doves and put into 
another cage to the mutual advantage of both couples, and shortly 
afterwards we witnessed the courtship of the male bird. He would utter 
his notes, puff out his throat, expand his tail feathers, spread out his 
wings, and hop from perch to perch with bowed head, uttering a low 
