DOVES AND PIGEONS 99 



seasons. Like those of other doves, their nests are 

 such foolish little platforms of twigs loosely laid 

 together, that the wonder is that the eggs can 

 escape rolling over the sides of them. Rudimentary 

 though they seem, they are at any rate a step in 

 advance of the nests constructed by Nicobar- 

 pigeons in captivity, which are so hopelessly futile 

 that accidents constantly occur to the eggs and 

 young birds. They are usually placed in shrubs 

 or small trees at no great height from the ground, 

 and are seldom, if ever, built on the inner cornices 

 of verandahs as those of the common ring-dove of 

 Upper India often are. 



In the morning and evening spotted doves very 

 often make short, almost vertical ascents into the 

 air, rushing upwards on " loud-clapping " wings, and 

 then sailing downwards on a gentle incline with 

 widely expanded wings and tail. Such flights are 

 probably sexual displays by the male birds, as the 

 broad white band, crossing the tail a little above 

 the tip, is shown off to great advantage during 

 their downward course. The same band is also 

 momentarily displayed during the brief expansion 

 of the tail that takes place at the time of pitching 

 from a flight. They spend much of their time on 

 the ground, and are constantly to be seen morning 

 and evening, trotting about over lawns and garden- 

 walks. Some seeds appear to be regarded as very 

 great delicacies, and the fruiting of amaranths, and 



