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larger and median wing coverts are brilliantly coloured with,

ultramarine changing to ruby red, and emerald green changing

to golden green : therefore, if this bird were to display itself

exactly in the same manner as Tiu-tur and Geopelia, its chief

beauty would be concealed : it does indeed bow and spread its

tail fanwise ; but, instead of drooping its wings tlie}^ are lifted

backwards so that the coverts almost join and form a glittering

rainbow of colours behind the head as the bird bows.


In Phlogcenas luzonica (the Bleeding-heart Pigeon) the

most brilliant colouring is on the breast and this bird rarely

hows to its hen, but races after her at full speed with its long

legs, its outstretched neck bobbing as it runs : then as it nears

her it depresses its tail, throws out its breast, retracts its head

and utters a very ventriloquial coo, rocking on its feet as if the

utterance disturbed its balance ; at other times it slightly raises

and quivers its wings cooing in a rapid staccato fashion —

gu-g2i-gti-gti-gu-gii.


I never saw Tympanistria show off to its mate, and suspect

that it is far too sluggish to breed in any but a very large aviary,

and my experience of Calcenas yiicobarica is the same ; doubtless

Mr. Meade-Waldo, who has bred the latter species pretty freel}'-,

could enlighten us as to its method of displaying its charms.


Chalcophaps and Phaps are genera of rather sluggish but

very beautiful birds, and I am not sure whether what I have seen

them do was intended as an attraction or an insult to their wives,

but I have seen them approach the hen and lift up the wing

farthest from her, so as to expose all the metallic feathers

•simultaneously : I have seen them do this when sidling up to

another dove to give him a smack so that it may not have been

intended as an overture of affection, but it was extremely

heautiful for all that. {U)


The species of Zejiaida, which are chiefly ornamented on

the neck, appear to me to show themselves off like our domestic

Pigeons, but I have not studied them intimately enougli to be

■quite sure of ni)^ facts yoX, though I have had a pair of

Z. aicriaciata for twelve months. Z. azwita I have only added

recently.


By the way, it seems curious that Zenaida should be


{b) Phaps chalcopiera shows off to its mate in much the same way as Ocyphaps,

namely, by bowing- the head, expanding the tail and spreading the wings over the back,

thus presenting to the hen a shield of brilliant metallic colours. At the same time the

hird sways its body from side to side, balancing its weight first on one leg and then on the

other. I have also seen it bow and spread the tail like an English Woodpigeon or the

various species of Geopelia. — D. S.-S.



