130



Thl Marquis of Tavistock,



end, however, they gradually used to disappear, and although we

tried them on several occasions the result was always the same.

The hens, for some reason, invariably vanished sooner than the cocks,

some of the latter remaining about for nearly two years.


Thibetan Pigeons (Columba leuconota) were released full¬

winged. They stayed well for a shoi’t time and then deserted us.

I believe we should have had more success with them had they been

provided with a dove-cote, for they are naturally rock-dwellers and

spent most of their time on the roof and ledges of the house.

Cinnamon Doves, Scaly Doves and White-crowned Pigeons have

all been tried but soon grew discontented with their surroundings

and left. Tambourine Doves, Bleeding-heart Pigeons and Crowned

Pigeons stayed better, but were unable to survive the winter without

artificial heat. Triangular Spotted Pigeons also proved sensitive to

the cold : a hen of this species we once had was extremely tame,

delighting in being stroked and petted, and showing her pleasure at

the approach of her friends by cooing and shaking her wings. For

quite a long time she was much attached to me and I could do any¬

thing I liked with her, but after I had been absent from home for a

few weeks she would have nothing more to do with me, pecking and

striking in the most spiteful manner whenever I attempted to touch

her. I could never understand this sudden change in her behaviour,

for she was as affectionate as ever towards her other friends, and

birds as a rule have good memories and seldom forget those of whom

they have once been fond.


About eighteen months ago I started an experiment with

Smith’s Ground Doves (Geophaps smithi), obtaining eight of these

curious little brown and white birds, which look more like partridges

than pigeons. On their arrival I cut their wings and turned them

into the grass quadrangle round which the house is built and which,

being sunny and sheltered, I hoped would provide them with a

satisfactory home. They did well for a short time, but after about

a fortnight four died very suddenly, from what exact cause I was

unable to discover. The remainder, however, wei’e more fortunate

and lived for some months in perfect harmony. Then, one day to

my great surprise, three of them suddenly attacked the fourth and

scalped his head badly, and would doubtless have killed him had



