340



Mr. T. H. Newman,



“ There is another slight inaccuracy in Gonld’s notes. He

states that the eggs are laid on the bare ground ‘ without any

nest.’ It may be true in some instances, but the Messrs. Barnard

inform me thejr have frequently disturbed a pair of birds scratch¬

ing out their little nesting hollow, which they line with soft, dry

grass. The Partridge Pigeon breeds at almost any period of the

year, but usually from September or October to well into the

autumn, the majority, perhaps, laying in January.”


The interest of the subject, and the way in which it agrees

with my notes, must be my excuse for quoting so fully from such

a well-known work.


During the latter part of last year, the cock bird of my

pair would frequently sit by a tall tuft of grass, the leaves hang¬

ing over and forming a shelter, uttering a low note to call the

hen, but no serious attempt was made to nest. In April 1908

the birds became anxious to nest, and on the 24th of that month

I found an egg with a hole at one end under an ivy b»L 1, which

is planted just outside the glass shelter. The ivy leaves nearly

concealed the nest. A small willow grows above the ivy, and

long grass surrounds the roots of the plants, the actual nest being

between the ivy root and a board, which forms the base of the

division from the next compartment of the aviary. No nest

seemed to be made, but some of the long grass was beaten down,

and formed a slight protection from the bare earth. A second

egg was laid on the 26th : the birds did not sit. This second egg

was put under some other doves, but it disappeared.


The eggs, of which I have three examples before me, are

small for the size of the bird, being scarcely larger than those of

the Barbary Dove. In colour they are a pale cream, not so

strongly tinted as those of Lophophaps ; in shape they are rather

rounded ovals, slightly more pointed at the smaller end, and are

smooth, possessing a considerable gloss.


I was away during the early part of May and, when I re¬

turned, the birds were sitting on two eggs, only a few inches

from the spot chosen at first. I placed a glass shutter leaning

against the partition so as to protect the nest from rain, etc.

When they had been sitting for over a fortnight, I thought the

eggs were no good and gave them a shake, when I was horrified



