and they are consequently a somewhat expensive luxury when

procurable, but those who have been fortunate enough to secure

a specimen of Chloropsis hardwickii will, I have no doubt, agree

that as inmates of a bird-room they are all that could be desired.



THE DIAMOND DOVE.


(Geopelia cuneataj.


By O. Ernest Cressweee.


The “Diamond Dove,” as it is now almost exclusively

called by importers, is a Dove of many names. I find it called

also the “ Speckled Ground Dove,” and the “ Graceful Ground

Dove,” and occasionally, and not inaptly, by those who have

knowm it in its wild state, the “ Red-eyed Dove.” It is certainly

one of the smallest and most elegant of the vast Columbine tribe.

I can never quite make up my mind which is the most attractive,

this or the tiny “Harlequin” Cape Dove (CEna capensis). To

whichever the palm of beauty and elegance may be given, the

Diamond Dove has the advantage of being by far the hardier

bird. The first description of it which I can recoiled! to have

read, and which filled me with the desire, for many years

unsatisfied, to possess a pair, was that of Sturt, one of the

earlier Australian explorers. He wrote, “ All that we read or

imagine of the softness and innocence of the Dove is realized

in this beautiful and delicate little bird. It is very small, and

has a general purple plumage approaching to lilac. It has a

bright red skin round the eyes, the iris being also red, and its

wings are speckled over with delicate white spots. This sweet

bird is common on the Murray and Darling, and was met with

in various parts of the interior, but I do not think it migrates to

the North-West. Two remained with us at the Depot, in lat.

39 0 40', long. 140°, during a great part of the winter, and on one

occasion roosted on my tent ropes near a fire. The note of this

Dove is exceedingly plaintive, and is softer, but much resembles,

the coo of the Turtle Dove.” I may here say, in passing, that I

have gained a good deal of bird-lore from the books of earlier

travellers, especially from those who give notes of the night

temperatures of hot countries, which are frequently far lower

than is generally imagined. The modern traveller, unless a

professed naturalist, is generally in by far too great a hurry to

observe or to record such commonplace fadts.


Gould says of this Dove, “ Its natural food being the seeds

of grasses and leguminous plants, it is observed more frequently



