Notes on 1913.



173



the bird turns out. At present all three birds are still together and

agree perfectly.


The Violet Doves have done nothing. Early in the summer

I had a third bird (a cock) in the aviary, but I took him away as the

other two seemed inclined to nest. They now and then sat in one

of the nest-baskets but that was all. I have never reared any

Violet Doves since 1903, and these two birds are not my original

breeding pair. I have kept a good many of this dove at different

times, but have never found they nested very readily, save the one

pair I once had. The Violet is one of the most beautiful doves

imported, and I shall never forget what a pretty sight a flock of

fourteen were when altogether, just as they were sent to me from

Jamaica by a friend. * * *


In No. 2 DIVISION I have: 1 pair of Bronze-wing Pigeons,

1 pair of Diamond Doves; 1 pair of Senegal Doves; 1 cock Eufous

Dove.


The Bronze-wings were both adult when they came to me,

and I have had them over ten years. They still show no sign of

age, but the cock is quite blind on one side from an injury done

before he came to me. Besides rather spoiling his beauty, it makes

him somewhat clumsy on the nest with eggs or young birds,

though he is very steady when sitting, and a good parent.


When first this pair of Bronze-wings came to me, I also

bought at the same time, and from the same owner, a second cock,

a very fine bird. I gave the hen her choice, and without hesitation

she choose the blind bird, and they have been a devoted couple ever

since. I have watched the hen showing off to the cock, spreading

her gorgeous metallic wing to attract his notice, and giving him

affectionate little dabs with her beak, which I suppose in the bird

world we may look upon as kisses. The cock took it all very

quietly, but no doubt he was pleased with such flattering attention.


These Bronze-wings have reared many young ones, but I

almost thought they were too old to nest, though the hen laid eggs

and both birds would sit. To my surprise this year they reared a

very fine well-coloured cock bird. It w 7 as very strong and grew

very fast, perhaps being a single bird it got extra attention from

its parents.



