Breeding Plumage in the Male Plumed Ground Dove. 113


this species has noticed this change of plumage, or whether it has

been noticed amongst the wild birds in Australia. It appears to me

to be an analogous case to the Chaffinch getting a blue head in

summer, the Brambling and Black-headed Bunting getting black

heads, and the various other breeding plumage changes in different

species, but, so far as I am aware, it has not hitherto been recorded

of any species of dove or pigeon that it assumes a distinctive phase

of plumage for the breeding season.



A FEW OF MY BIRDS IN CAGES.


By Mrs. Warren Vernon.


I am living at present in a very cold part of Scotland, and at

an altitude of 904 feet, so after hearing that last winter the glass

went down to 7° below zero I gave up all idea of out-door aviaries.

I have turned a room into a place for the birds to get exercise and

change, but the majority I have to keep in cages. So far this plan

seems to answer well, and from former experience I consider one has

a better chance of seeing if the birds require attention when in cages

and separately, than when a lot of them are together flying loose.

There is often one looking rough and a little immediate attention

and medicine if given at once will cure,' when in an aviary the bird

may be moping behind something and escape notice till too late to

save Its life.


The room has cork lino on the floor and looks N.W. getting

sun in the afternoon, large boughs in pots, lots of nest boxes and

cocoa nuts to furnish it. On the deep window sill I place some

green stuff, and in front of it a long bough on which the birds sit.

The window is half-wired and is opened whenever the weather

permits, it changes very quickly here from warm to bitter cold.

Large baths stand on a tray, the birds bathing constantly no matter

how cold the weather is. On a mantelshelf all the seeds for the

hard bills are put. There is electric light in the room, and I can

turn it on in the dark evenings, as it begins to get dark so early now,


I found certain birds much more restless and disturbers of

the peace at night than others, viz. : Java Sparrows (white variety)



