136 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



pitilessly the friends who were ready to save the 

 strawberries by devouring their greatest enemies, the 

 slimy molluscs. 



HYBRID DOVES 



A Yarmouth pigeon fancier mated a male Almond- 

 splashed Pigeon with a Collared Dove in 1897. After 

 spoiling six pairs of eggs, a pair of hybrids were 

 produced ; they were dove-like in general appearance 

 and manners, and exceedingly timid. One bird was 

 pale mouse - coloured, with the edging of the 

 secondaries and the greater and lesser wing-coverts 

 of a light brown hue. The tail was barred at the 

 extreme end with white. The other bird was 

 whitish, with the edgings of the afore-mentioned 

 parts fawn coloured. The birds were healthy and 

 strong. 



At another house during the same year I saw a 

 hybrid produced from a dark blue Tumbler and a 

 hen Collared Dove. It was plum-coloured all over, 

 and resembled its maternal parent in style and 

 appearance. On the neck were the loveliest metallic- 

 bronzed tints imaginable, reminding me of those on 

 the American Passenger Pigeon. 



