98 TAME DOVES. 



bird was greatly excited, apparently longing to 

 get out again, so I opened the cage door and the 

 window of the room, and away he flew. Presently 

 I heard Peace cooing loudly, and, following the 

 sound I found him under the verandah with the 

 young dove that was missing ; he was evidently 

 trying to show me his truant child, and as soon as 

 I took them both up and carried them to the 

 cage, Peace was quite happy and content. 



When the weather became warm and sunny 

 the little pair decided that their next nest should 

 be built in some clematis growing up the pillars 

 of the verandah. It was a charming spot to 

 select, for the little mother-bird had flickering 

 sunbeams shining upon her whilst she sat, and 

 leaves to shelter her from the heat. 



Now again a domestic difficulty arose and 

 Peace came to tell me about it. What was he to 

 do for building materials ? I provided small 

 flexible birch twigs, and was amused to find that 

 when I offered one, the little builder took it gladly, 

 and, flying off to the nest, presented it to his wife 

 and she wove it into the family dwelling. 



Later on in the day it seemed to me that the 



