176 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



eyes being large and intensely dark, set off in many 

 cases by dark grey eyelids. In some specimens, 

 however, the eyelids are pink. The feet are deep 

 purple, not red or crimson as doves' feet usually are. 



This Dove cannot be called very common in India, 

 though it is widely spread over that country, and extends 

 to Burma, China, and the Philippines. It is also found 

 in the Andamans, but is very rare in Ceylon. I 

 have only seen it wild myself in Dehra Dun a 

 remarkably good place for Doves ; and I introduce 

 it here as a particularly desirable aviary bird. The 

 unique colouring of the cock makes him most orna- 

 mental, and the difference between the sexes makes 

 it easy to select a true pair, thus doing away 

 with the leading difficulty in breeding Doves. The 

 Red species is a particularly free breeder ; we had 

 a pair in the Calcutta Zoological Garden which bred 

 successfully in a large cage much less than six feet 

 square, which they shared with other Doves of the 

 same and other species, and a lot of other birds ! It 

 has also bred in the London Zoological Garden, and 

 would be much appreciated by amateurs in England, 

 where it is very rare as yet. 



To people who dislike the monotonous and penetrating- 

 coo of most Doves, but admire the family never- 

 theless, this bird may be confidently recommended. 

 It can only express its amorous feelings by muttering, 

 which may not be romantic; but is not annoying 

 to a third party ! I once had a cream-coloured male of 

 this species, which Mr. Rutledge gave me ; except 



