286 



FOREIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



proper clutches: A (1) 1.12 x -87, (2) 1.05 x -84; 

 B (1) 1.11 x -85, (2) 1.08 x .87." 



A freely, but irregularly, imported species, of which 

 I purchased a pair in December. 1896. I found them 

 singularly apathetic as a general rule, though occasion- 

 .allv the male would attack my pair of Australian Bronze- 

 winged Pigeons. They never showed the least inclina- 

 tion to breed while kept in an indoor aviary, although 

 .the hen would sometimes lay an egg on the ground, 

 where it usually got broken unless already cracked when 

 dropped. At length .-he lost the use of one of her wings, 

 and I believe I gave her to Mr. Newman, in whose aviary 

 recovered. I replaced her by a second female, and 

 on March 6th. 1906, tli>e pair built in a shallow box, 

 the male -nn^tantly driving about the cock Bronzewing 

 ^Pigeon. However, nothing came of this attempt. On 

 May 9th. 1907, I turned the pair into my larger garden 

 aviary The cork occasionally rocked with a curious 

 pitching motion on a perch and boomed at the hen, but 

 throughout the year they never !>ml, aird during the 

 winter the hen succumbed to the cold and wet, and I 

 found her bedraggled, muddy, and dead on the floor of 

 the aviary. I brought the cock bird indoors again late 

 .in the following autumn, and on March 13th, 1909, he 

 idied, having been in my possession twelve years and 

 four months. 



This Dove was first purchased by the London Zoologi- 

 cal Society in 1861, and others have been added to the 

 Regent's Park collection from time to time. Ruse pays 

 that Bode, of Leipzig, im polled several examples in 

 1883. Mr. Seth -Smith was successful in breeding it in 

 his aviaries in 1906. 



INDIAN GREEN-AVINGED DOVE (Chalcophaps indica). 



In the adult male the forehead' and eyebrow streak 

 .are white, shading into bluish-leaden on the crown and 

 nape ; bill coral-red with dusky cere ; feet dull purplish - 

 crini'son ; orbit livid fleshy ; iris dark brown ; otherwise 

 very similar to the preceding species. 



The female has the forehead dull grey and the eye- 

 brow stripe narrower; the crown, na.pe, and upper back 

 brown ; under surface reddish-brown finely speckled 

 with grey; bend of wing brown; four central tail- 

 feathers brownish-black, two next with a chestnut tinge 

 towards the base ; outer feathers grey with 'black sub- 

 terminal belt. 



The young is said to be dusky brown above, with 

 little green, and barred below. Hab., India and Ceylon, 

 through Burmah and South China, through Malaysia 

 to Western New Guinea and the islands in Geelvink 

 Bay. 



Jerdon observes ("Birds of India," Vol. II., p. 485) : 

 " This beautiful Ground-Dove is found throughout India, 

 in forest countries, occasionally in well-wooded districts, 

 as in lower Bengal., extending to Assam and all the 

 countries on the east of the Bay of Bengal, as far as, 

 at all events. Tenasserim. It is very partial to bamboo 

 jungle, and occurs from the level "of the sea up to 

 3,000ft., or perhaps higher. It feeds mostly on the 

 ground, often, on roads in forests and bare spots under 

 trees, walking along with a rapid motion, and allowing 

 a mo-der.itely near approach. Its flight is very rapid. 

 It is generally seen alone. Its voice is a plaintive moan, 

 or 'lowing coo.' as Layard calls it. Its eggs are said 

 by Layard to be pale yellowish drab-colour, but Blyth 

 says that they are merely of a less pure white than 

 those of ordinary Pigeons or Doves. It soon -becomes 



reconciled to confinement, and caged birds are usually 

 for sale in Calcutta." 



Colonel Legge says ("Birds of Ceylon," Vol. II., p. 

 717) : " In the Western Province I have shot the ' Beetle- 

 wing ' in a state of breeding in June, but I have taken 

 its eggs in the Kurunegala district in February, so that 

 it probably breeds at no regular period, and very likely 

 has more broods thain. one in the year. The nest I found 

 was near Dyatura, built at the extremity of the lateral 

 'branch of a small tree at about 6ft. from the ground. 

 It was made of small sticks, and slightly more cup- 

 shaped than that of a true Dove (Turtur). It contained 

 two eggs, regular ovals in shape, and of a warm, buff 

 or cream colour." 



" Mr. Hume describes the nests as more regular saucers 

 than those of the Doves, composed of roots, grass, or 

 twigs, but comparatively neat and devoid of lining, with 

 a decided central depression. It breeds in India from 

 February till July. The eggs are said' 'by this gentleman 

 to vary from creamy white to white, and to measure 

 from 1.0 to l.lin. in length by from 0.82 to 0.86in. in 

 breadth." 



The Malays are said to give the name of " Fool 

 Pigeon " to this bird on account of the ease with which, 

 they capture it. Concealing themselves behind an arbour 

 of branches in a clearing, they scatter rice around, and 

 the birds crowd round in such numbers and with so little 

 suspicion that they are seized one after the other by 

 hand and drawn into the arbour, the remaining Doves 

 being too much absorbed to notice the disappearance of 

 their comrades. On the other hand, in Upper Assam 

 this bird is described as being shy. 



Numbers of individuals of this species are sold in the 

 Calcutta market ; and, from time to time, consignments 

 reach the London dealers. In 1898 or 1899 I had an 

 opportunity of purchasing examples, but they were in 

 very rough condition, and as I already possessed the 

 nearly related Australian species I did not care to secure 

 doubtfully healthy representatives of the Indian one. 



The London Zoological Society first received this Dove 

 in 1856, and has had numerous specimens of both sexes 

 since that date, but, up to 1895, appears never to have 

 succeeded in breeding it; but Dr. Russ bred it freely 

 in his bird-room, the nest being formed in a wire cage 

 hanging high up; Mr. Seth-Smith also bred it in his 

 aviaries in 1904 and 1905. 



CHRISTMAS ISLAND GREEN-WINGED DOVE 

 (Chalcophaps natali*}. 



The male closely resembles that sex of C. indica, but 

 the female has the neck, upper back, and breast coffee- 

 coloured (" rufous-cinnamon " Salvador!) ; the upper 

 tail-coverts and central tail-feathers pure cinnamon ; and 

 the under tail-coverts similar and without blackish tips. 

 It is about lin. shorter than C. indica. Hab., Christinas 

 Island. 



Dr. C. W. Andrews says ("Monograph of Christina.- 

 Island." p. 39): "The Ground-Pigeon is by far the 

 most brightly coloured of the birds of Christmas Island. 

 It usually feeds on the ground, and can run rapidly. 

 Though generally seen in pairs, small flocks sometimes 

 occur, particularly near water. The food consists of 

 small fruits. The nest is said to be placed in thickets 

 of screw-pine (Z'fint/rnnt*). but 1 never saw either it or 

 the eggs. At pairing time the males fight fiercely, and 

 are said to kill one another occasionally. Young birds 

 are seen in April. In spite of the brightness of the 

 colouring this bird is difficult to see, the green of the 



