CHAPTER LVIII. 



I His is another very nice bird, about the same size 

 as the last species, but of a stouter or plumper 

 build; it has also a much shorter tail. It is a native 

 of South-western Africa, whence it is often imported 

 in considerable numbers: it is, however, decidedly 

 delicate and no attempt should ever be made to winter 

 it out of doors in this country. 



I once tried to acclimatize a pair, but the result 

 was deplorable for the poor Doves and distressing to 

 myself, nor would anything tempt me to repeat the 

 experiment, which was not carried out to the bitter 

 end. They were in a very comfortable aviary, too, 

 but even there the cold seemed quite to paralyse them, 

 and when I caught them in order to bring them into 

 the house, their feet were swollen and felt just like ice. 



The Bronze-spotted Dove is a very pretty bird. The 

 top and back part of its head are bluish grey; the 

 forehead white, and from the angle of the mouth to 

 the eye extends a narrow black line that surmounts 



