252 FEATHERED FRIENDS, 



having had the mortification of losing a number of 

 chicks exactly at the moment when success appeared 

 certain ; however, as aviarists are mostly thankful for 

 very small mercies, her last good fortune quite recon- 

 ciled her to all the preceding losses and disappointments* 



The note of the Cape Dove is rather peculiar, resem- 

 bling the syllable "hoo" or "heugh" frequently repeated, 

 rather than the well-known cooing of so many other 

 members of the family. The intonation, however, varies 

 a good deal according to the temper the bird is in at 

 the time of calling, as well as to the season of the year. 



The female I have found to be a very quiet, silent 

 little thing, and have never heard her give utterance 

 to anything more than a little grunt ; but the young 

 ones hiss from a very early age, if in a scarcely audible 

 tone, and lift up their ridiculous-looking apologies for 

 wings with as much assurance as if they were as big 

 and strong as a Goura. 



I have occasionally seen two males pretend to quarrel 

 with each other, but it was not an exciting contest to 

 witness, and, as a rule, subsided after a second or two, 

 the rivals betaking themselves off in different directions, 

 apparently well satisfied with the result of the duel. 



The scientific name of the Cape Dove is (Ena 

 capensis. 



