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Miss Rosie Aederson,



In this house is an old cock Greenwing Dove that I have

had for many years—I should think nine or ten. He still looks

very juvenile and in perfect feather. It would be interesting to

know how long doves really live on an average if kept under good

conditions. If a bird is bought adult, as the Greenwing was, of

course its age cannot be determined, but there must be many

cases where the age of aviary-bred birds might be noted.


A Violet or White-fronted Dove in this house is one of my

favourites ; her mate met with a sad end. He was a particularly

fine bird and I do not think bad tempered, but one day I found

him quite blinded in both eyes, they had been pecked, and I

strongly suspected a Bleeding Heart as the culprit. The poor

Violet only lived a few days, his sight was gone and his spirit

seemed quite broken and he had no sense in finding his food.

Violet Doves are never very common, but I expect another mate

for my little hen before the summer is over, as I may have

several birds sent m.e later on from Jamaica.


In No. 6 division I have shut the door between the flight

and the shelter, so dividing the place into two parts, the door is

of wood and wire, and there is a good sized window in the

shelter so it gets plenty of light. In the flight are a pair of

Aurita Doves and their young one, a pair of Cockatiels and my

second Masked Parrakeet “Jack,” a very old bird. I have had

“Jack” a long time and have tried to make him care for me but

not with much success. One minute I may pet him in safety,

the next I must look out for a bite. He does not try much to

bite in an ordinary way, but has a method of his own of striking

out with his beak. He is a strange bird—not caring for women

at all—but very fond of men, and was devoted to the groom who

used to see to the aviaries, letting him pick him up and do what

he liked with him without showing the least inclination to bite.

Last spring the groom died, and “Jack’s” distress was great

he missed him very much.and sat constantly on the watch with

an expectant look that was pathetic to see. Now “Jack” has

made great friends with one of the gardeners who at present has

charge of the birds, and it is amusing to see how the bird will

come to him (when he will go to no one else), bowing his head

up and down to show his pleasure.



