The Dove Family. 23 



calling Ring-dove : it usually breeds true to colour, 

 and will live outdoors all the year round. 



THE EGYPTIAN TURTLE DOVE, Turtur vinaceus, is 

 a fine, handsome bird, about half as large again as 

 the preceding species, with which it will inter-breed 

 and produce hybrids, which usually resemble the male 

 bird, whose breast is ruddy fawn, back light chocolate, 

 and top of head bluish. Feed on any kind of poultry 

 mixture : it is quite hardy. 



The following desirable species, of which space will 

 not permit me to give a description, have all bred 

 in the London Zoological Gardens, viz., THE WHITE- 

 CROWNED PIGEON, Columba leucocephala, from the 

 West Indies ; THE PORTO RlCO PlGEON, C. cor- 

 ensis, THE PiCAZURO PIGEON, C. picazuro, and the 

 BARE-EYED PIGEON, C. gymnophthalma all West 

 Indian species ; and MAUGE'S DOVE, Geopelia Maugaei, 

 which is a native of Australia. 



The Turtles, including our common British species, 

 Turtur commums, have all bred freely in the Gardens, 

 and some of them in my own aviary. They are very 

 handsome birds, but decidedly pugnacious, and require 

 an aviary, or at least a compartment in the aviary, 

 to themselves. 



The genus Peristera, of which GEOFFROY'S DOVE 

 is a well-known species, contains other hardy and 

 beautiful birds, some of which are free breeders. 



I can only name THE CROWNED and THE NlCOBAR 

 PIGEONS, the giants of their race, both in every way 

 worthy of the attention of amateurs. 



