254 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



Harlequin is only about half that of the Barred Dove. 

 As regards its temper the species now under consid- 

 eration does not quite come up to the standard of 

 perfection to which the Cape Dove has attained, but 

 as the former is a native of India that is not so very 

 surprising, for I have always found that the African 

 inmates of my aviary were more amiable and better 

 natured than those that hailed from "the gorgeous 

 East", and infinitely more peaceful than our English 

 birds, at least with very few exceptions among the 

 latter, the Ringdove for instance, as I have already shown. 



If the Barred Dove is less gentle than its Masked 

 congener, it is also more delicate, for although I believe 

 some amateurs have successfully wintered it out of doors, 

 I was quite unable to do so, and had to bring mine in 

 in October, which, as I now recollect, was the reason 

 why I had to send them away, not having room to 

 dispose of them in the house. 



They seemed to feel the cold very acutely, and 

 looked so thoroughly miserable in the garden aviary 

 that I had no alternative, but had to take them out of 

 it at once, for although they were only exposed to the 

 sudden cold for a day or two they appeared quite 

 benumbed by it, and I do not think they would have 

 survived a much more protracted exposure to the 

 inclemency of the commencing winter. What then must 

 have been their sufferings and ultimate fate had I steeled 

 my heart against them and left them out to take their 



