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On Green-winged Doves.



It is a good plan to always provide a lump of rock salt

(placed in a glazed pot to keep it clean) in every aviary. The cost is

very slight and the salt is a valuable addition to the birds’ ordinary

diet to help to keep them' in good health.


In India, the Green-wing much frequents the “ salt-licks,”

and so well known is this fact that it has become a saying that “ the

elephant and deer like salt-licks, buffalo and gour must resort to

them at times, but that the Emerald Dove (as the Green-wing is

sometimes called in India) dies if it is kept from them more than a

day.”


The Green-wing in its wild state is often seen in pairs or

singly, though sometimes a flock of about six may be seen together,

the flight is very strong.


To anyone starting to keep doves, or adding a few of the

brighter-coloured ones to a mixed collection of birds, either variety

of Green-wing Dove will prove a very attractive addition. As a rule

they are good-tempered compared to many doves, though occasion¬

ally one will have a sudden outbreak of spitefulness, but this fault is

shared by many other birds besides the Green-wings. Sometimes

indeed I have known these doves form strange attachments. I have

a very pleasant remembrance of a little Long-tailed Tit that used to

nestle most lovingly against his big friend, one of the Green-wings ;

and again where a small Diamond Dove and a Green-wing were

close companions.


I have lost my old Green-wing hen, and do not expect ever

to replace her, she was such a good nesting bird, but I have hopes

of again rearing some young ones, for my young hen laid eggs and

sat well last season. Unfortunately she was disturbed by another

bird, but this year, under quieter surroundings, she may do better..



