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colour fades almost at once. They were, therefore, probably

an old pair, but could not have been less than one year old.

They bred, at intervals, in both Mr. St. Ouintin’s aviary and

in mine until 1897, when they must have been ten years old;

then they suddenly took it into their heads to go ahead

in a most amazing manner. They had four nests and reared

no less than twenty-two young ones, hatching every egg and

rearing each young—this latter operation being rendered much

easier for the parents, by the young of each nest going up

and feeding their y^ounger brethren, while in the nest and after

they had left. I saw the young do it while still being fed them¬

selves by the parents ! This last summer the old pair only had

one nest and reared three y r oung ones, and lost an albino which

was drowned in a thunder-shower after it left the nest. I

distinctly see what I consider to be signs of age in the old hen :

she did not moult out so cleanly as she ought to do, and she

looks dull.


Another old bird here, is a female Canarian Laurel Pigeon,

Columba laurivora , which I took from the nest in 1888, in the

Island of Gomera. She has laid a great number of eggs, and

reared a number of young ones for two years, while she had a

husband to her taste. Since she lost him she will have nothing

to say to any of her sons. She lives at perfect liberty with some

others of her own species, but still keeps absolutely tame. It is

most amusing to see her stand up to a male Great Bustard, and

flick at his head when he is eating.


Pigeons, however, live to great ages, no doubt: 28J- years

is recorded in Mr. Gurney’s list, and I have a cock Nicobar

Pigeon that was very old when I first got him — eleven years ago.

He is in most perfect vigour still, as anyone may see in the

Western Aviary'- in the Zoological Gardens where he is temporarily

deposited.


This question of the ages of birds seems so interesting

that I hope members of the Society may^ be induced to record

anyr that seem to them sufficiently important, and not to forget

to mention the conditions and feeding of the individuals under

notice.



