WILD PIGEONS AND DOVES 117 



a perfect pet. If gently treated, it becomes absolutely tame, 

 allowing itself to be fondled with the utmost abandon. It 

 breeds readily in the smallest of cages, rearing an all-too- 

 numerous progeny. A kind-hearted woman recently un- 

 burdened herself by presenting to the New York Zoological 

 Park seventeen young Barbary Doves, the offspring of a 

 . single pair of pet birds! 



IK This species is indifferent to cold, and will live out of 

 IBdoors in winter. It may be given its liberty under proper 

 ^fconditions and will return nightly to its home, or establish 

 mkself in the grounds. 



The Barbary Dove has numerous wild relatives in Africa 

 and Asia. Many closely resemble the domestic bird, but 

 all are considerably darker in color. 



The Crowned Pigeons are the giants of the family. Eight 

 species, all from New Guinea, are known, but only two, the 

 Great Crowned Pigeon (Goura coronata) and the Vic- 

 toria (G. victoria) J are generally seen in captivity. Both 

 are large birds, the size of a small turkey, and bluish-drab 

 in general color. The Great has purplish-brown across the 

 back and wing coverts, and the Victoria has the same shade 

 on the fore neck and throat. All of the species are orna- 

 mented with a long, vertical crest, which is full-webbed in 

 the Great and has spatulate tips in the Victoria. These 

 feathers were the " Gouras " of milliners, until a merciful 

 law stopped the traffic. 



Crowned Pigeons are long-lived birds in captivity. Their 

 food consists of the smaller grains, with an occasional meal 

 of game food or soft food. They are fond of bananas and 

 also meal worms. Although they are perfectly contented in 

 small quarters, they are naturally at their best in a large 

 aviary, but require heated quarters in winter. 



The Great Crovmed Pigeon has been bred in England on 

 several occasions, but not, as yet, in America. Both species, 



