128



The Marquis’of Tavistock,



low, rapid, and silent, and is not unlike that of a Woodcock. In

their diet these birds appear to be largely insectivorous and I have

found them extremely fond of mealworms, although they have some

trouble in killing them and evidently feel uncomfortable if they

happen to swallow them alive. They eat a considerable quantity

of maize and often seem to prefer it to smaller grain.


The first year we bred them a good many late hatched young

died during the early winter, so next season I attempted to in¬

crease our stock by catching up all the immature birds I could get

hold of and placing them in an aviary. I managed to secure four,

but the experiment was not a success as two died shortly afterwards

of septic fever and a third killed itself by flying against some glass.

As far as I can tell we have at present about four or five pairs of

Bronze-necked Wood-doves at liberty in the garden, but their retiring

habits and unsociable disposition make them extremely difficult to

count. They appear to be immune to canker, but occasionally suffer

from tuberculosis.


Wonga-wonga Pigeons (Leucosarcia picata ) were imported in

small numbers on several occasions, but it is only quite recently that

they have begun to establish themselves and do really well. At

first, many succumbed to tuberculosis and the few young that were

hatched were destroyed by the American Grey Squirrels before they

were able to protect themselves. For the last two years, however,

the ground has been less contaminated, and the squirrels being as far

as possible removed, the Wonga-wongas have done much better and

a number of young were successfully reared this season. Leucosarcia

picata is mainly terrestial in its habits, only perching in trees when

alarmed or engaged in nesting or when uttering its peculiar call—a

loud, high-pitched coo-coo, coo-coo, coo-coo, coo-coo, coo, coo, coo, coo —

often continued for five or ten minutes without a pause. The nest is

usually placed in an evergreen tree from ten to twenty feet from the

ground. The method of building is rather peculiar, the hen sitting

on the selected site, while the cock searches for the materials.

Having found a suitable stick he flies up close to his mate, walks

round her two or three times and then steps on to her back and gently

offers his burden which she takes and arranges under her, while he

goes off to obtain a further supply.



