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THE Plumed Ground Dove (Geophaps 
plumifera), which is a native 
of north Australia, is a very 
pretty bird and exceeding 
tame, considering that by nature it is a 
particularly wild and timid bird. Like the 
other Australian ground doves, it has 
amazing powers of flight, which enable it 
to cover a great expanse of ground in an 
incredibly short space of time. 
S/o 
A MORNING'S amusement can always be 
had by watching the curious 
The Plumed 
Ground Dove. 
Ruff : Re : : 
“showing off” antics of the ruff during his 
and courting. This little bird 
‘sin mufti.”’ : ; 
has a very pugnacious dis- 
position, and the per- 
sistence with which 
the several of these 
birds in the Society’s 
aviaries will follow 
each other up and show 
fight, until each ruff 
has won his reeve (as 
the female is called), 
is most entertaining. 
In the beginning of 
spring, when the birds 
arrive among our 
marshes, they are 
often to be seen en- 
gaged in desperate 
RUFF “IN 
MUFTI.” 
Sa 
Animal Life 
PLUMED GROUND DOVE. 
fury against each 
other. Even in cap- 
tivity their animosity 
continues, and the 
people that fatten 
them up for sale are 
obliged to shut them 
up in close dark 
rooms, otherwise the 
turbulent prisoners 
instantly fall to 
fighting with each 
other, and never cease 
till each has killed 
Te its antagonist. 
RUFF “SHOWING OFF.” Le 
I am sorry to relate that the only sur- 
viving specimen of the Galapagon land 
Iguana, mentioned in my last Notes, joined 
the majority on December 20th. This only 
emphasises what I have said before, viz., 
that anyone hearing of a fresh arrival at the 
Zoo should never lose a day before seeing 
it, or he may be disappointed. 
The Punctated Agouti, through a clerical 
error, was amusingly described as the 
punctured variety in the December number, 
and on the next page the Striped Hyzna 
was inadvertently referred to as the “ Laugh- 
ing” variety. It is, of course, the Spotted 
Hyena that was meant. 
