234



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



White-fronted Doves ( Leptoptila jamaicensis).


Eggs laid May 22nd and 25rd ; hatched out June 6th.

Rufous Doves ( Leptoptila reichenbachi).


Eggs laid May 25th and 26th ; hatched out June nth.

Cinnamon Doves ( Chamcepelia tatpacoti).


Eggs laid July 6th and 7th; hatched out July 22nd.



THE RAIN QUAIL.


Sir, —Can you tell me how to treat the Rain Quail during the winter?

Having to take them out of the aviary about November, I have to keep

them in a cage until I get back to East Hoathly in the spring.


I have had the same experience for two years. As soon as they are

caged the cock tries to get rid of the hen by chasing her about and pecking

at her eyes and beak, preventing her breeding. Yet, when separated, the

lien mopes and dies, refusing to eat. The first time I put her in with two

young Painted Quail hens. Although they seemed fairly friendly towards

the hen Rain Quail, she died after about three weeks.


Last autumn I sent a pair up to Chiswick ; next day I had a letter

saving that the cock had damaged the hen. I wrote back, saying, if the

lien mopes away get somebody to kill her; which had to be done a few

weeks afterwards, although she had recovered her wounds, but would not

eat. I11 their natural habitat do the hens form societies or live with their

broods during winter? IT. L. Sich.


The folloiving reply has been sent to Mr. H. L. Sich :


I have always found Rain Quails perfectly hardy, and that they do

best if left out-of-doors all the year round, provided that their aviary is not

in too exposed a situation, and contains a dry shelter. They are some of

the most nervous of Quails, and dash themselves almost to pieces if

alarmed ; consequently it is advisable to disturb them as little as possible.

It is a good plan to cut the flight feathers of one wing when first intro¬

ducing them into an aviary, to prevent them flying against the wire and

injuring themselves.


I have had no experience of Rain Quails in cages, and should imagine

that their great timidity would render them unsuited to so confined a

situation. D. SeTh-SmiTh.


TURNIX NIGRICOLLIS.


A CORRECTION.


Dr. Butler desires us to correct two errors which appeared in his

article on the above species in our last number :


Page 197, line 5 from bottom,


for two centimetres read ten centimetres.


Page 19S, top line,


for centimetres read spans.



