

CHAP, vi.] A SINGLE YOUNG ONE EEAEED. 213 



which appeared like their nest in the top of a tree, and 

 called Thompson's attention to it. He said he had been 

 there in that place the day before I came, and had not 

 then seen anything of the sort ; and to-day he has just 

 told me he thinks, but cannot be sure, the female has 

 begun to lay, but he does not like to climb to look, for 

 fear of disturbing them. This is another proof of 

 Australian birds retaining their native habits as to time, 

 and I think a stronger one than the Black Swans', as 

 they seem to breed at all periods." 



Their bad success the previous season might, I 

 thought, have arisen from their being themselves 

 scarcely adult birds. I have found that, both in Fancy 

 Pigeons and in Collared Turtles, the first pair or two of 

 eggs are generally clear. Domestic Pigeons are more 

 prolific breeders as they advance in years. The cock 

 bird especially becomes more useful and assiduous as a 

 nurse. But his Lordship does not admit this plea. 



Feb. 19, 1850. "I am rather led to doubt the solu- 

 tion you suggest, for our birds having laid three times 

 last year and only rearing a single young one (viz., that 

 they were themselves young birds), from the circum- 

 stance that another pair in the Regent's Park also nested 

 thrice, and, I believe, did not rear more, if so many ; 

 and it is hardly likely that all the birds obtained that 

 season should be young, and none adult. Their breeding 

 thrice, or rather nesting thrice with us, we can partly 

 account for, as in one instance the nest was disturbed." 



This had been previously explained. Nov. 9, 1849. 

 "As to the Australian Doves of which you speak in 

 your letter, I perfectly agree in the opinion that several 

 of them may be ultimately made useful to a certain 

 degree of domesticity. You speak of the Ocyphaps 



