320 Timehri. 



well. The Icterus, after which the whole order of mocking-birds is 

 named (Icteridae) was a mythical yellow bird among the Greeks and 

 Romans, the sight of which would cure a person of yellow-fever ! 



The yellow-heads may sometimes be seen in large flocks among the 

 rank reeds and rushes that grow along the rivers and in the marshy 

 places. Hence its name. It feeds on seeds and at times does damage 

 to the rice crops ; but like most birds, it well repays the toll it takes by 

 its usefulness in other respects. In a cage the bird wears the air of a 

 dignified protest and the only note it utters is dip -dip -dip. I have never 

 had an opportunity of rearing it from the nest and so I cannot say 

 whether its demeanour would alter under these circumstances. Many 

 birds can only be domesticated in this way. The sexes are alike except 

 that the hen is smaller. 



Doves. 



There are twelve or more species of doves indigenous to the colony. 

 I may say in passing that the terms dove and pig'.on are inter- 

 changeable. As a general rule the smaller and gentler species are 

 called doves, the larger and bolder, pigeons. The word pigeon 

 is derived from the French. (O. F. Pijon) and means (Lat., pipio), 

 a young piping bird. The word dove is from the old English dujan, to 

 dive : a word which may have reference to its undulating flight, for, 

 needless to say, neither pigeons or doves dive into water. All observers 

 of Nature must have seen a flock of pigeons, disturbed from their feeding- 

 ground, rise in a body and diving, as it were, into the bush, disappear. 



Doves and pigeons are to be found all over world. The are homo- 

 genous in form and feature and their habits are much the same. There 

 are in all five hundred species. 



Savannah Ground Dove. 

 Of the ground doves (Peristeridae) seen in Georgetown, the 

 Savannah ground-dove is the largest as it is the commonest. Its 

 scientific name from the Greek, Chamaepelia talpacoti, means " the 

 ground bird that scares the mole !" It is from six to seven inches in 

 length, the bill being half an inch and the tail an inch and a half beyond 

 the wings. The bird is a uniform pinkish red, fading into pink on the 

 throat and cheeks ; the crown of the head is cloud-grey. There are 

 downward lines of black or blue-black upon the wings like the jottings 

 of a pen ; the under-wing coverts are black as also the under-feathers of 

 the tail ; the primaries are blackish-brown. The eye is red and the, feet, 

 of course, pink. The Indians call it wihi which means " shaven " and 

 in truth the head has that appearance, being small, smooth, and light in 

 colour. The hen is brown with corresponding markings. 



The dove is gentle and timid, living amicably with smaller birds, 

 though it defends itself with its wings should they shew themselves 

 aggressive. Little finches if placed in the same cage will take advantage 

 of its gentle disposition, and sidling up, will pluck a small feather and 

 then, mirabile dictu, swallow it ! 



