THE TURTLE DOVE. 265 



better than they had done in the first quarters where 

 I had placed them. 



I soon saw, however, that the male bird had injured 

 one of his wings so that he could scarcely fly, which 

 in one sense was rather an advantage, as it kept him 

 from knocking himself about, but the hen remained 

 very wild. After a time they both got more reconciled 

 to their life out of doors and their heads got quite 

 well, but the wing of the cock did not : on the con- 

 trary, it became worse and evidently gave the bird pain 

 for he let it droop and frequently pecked at the 

 swollen joint. 



Whether the accident made him ill-tempered or not y 

 I cannot say, but he became very disagreeable to his 

 mate, and pecked furiously at the foolish big Ringdoves 

 whenever they went near him, but he would scuttle 

 away in a great hurry from all the Parrakeets except 

 the good-natured Cockateels, which he did not appear 

 to be afraid of. 



I left the Turtle Doves out all that summer and the 

 hen recovered completely, but the cock did not im- 

 prove; and finding in November that the pair of them 

 seemed to feel the cold severely, I caught them and 

 caged them indoors again. 



I do not now remember what became of them, though 

 I have an idea that I gave them away to someone, 

 but I am not sure I know neither of them died while 

 with me. 



