174



Miss B. Alderson,



The Diamond Doves in this house reared three young ones.

A further pair—very late hatched—died of cold when out of the

nest. I had put them up a shelter and a good bed of hay, as I do

for all young doves just out (as it is seldom a young dove returns to

the nest, and as a rule it still needs warmth and protection) and in

the morning they were all right. Unfortunately they strayed away

and got on the cold cement floor and one was found dead, the other

cold and unconscious. Warmth and patience revived it, and I took

it in the house and hand-reared it for some days. The little bird was

easy to feed, with a shaped quill tooth-pick, on soaked small seeds.

It was so tame, and loved to sit nestling on my finger before the

warm fire, and as it grew and the plumage began to mature, I began

to hope I should rear it, and pictured what a nice tame pet it would

make. But my hopes came to nothing. One day my fox-terrier

puppy got to the cage through someone leaving the room door open,

and though he could not get to the bird, he upset the cage and I

have no doubt gave the poor Diamond a bad shock and bruised it.

I do not know whether it was this or not, but the bird began to

get weaker and in a few days died.


The pair of Senegal Doves had five young ones, but one died

when full grown. The old birds hardly ever stop nesting all through

the summer, and would go on all through the year if allowed. They

seem to come off the eggs frequently, and yet they always hatch

and the young are generally reared. When I first had these Senegals

I was in despair with them because they would not brood their

young ones properly, and time after time the poor little things died

of cold, now I never have any trouble, for the old birds seem to have

learnt wisdom as they grew older.


The Bufous Dove cock in this division I have had eleven

years, and being an imported bird I do not know his age when he

came to me. His mate died some years ago, and he is too old now

even to fly, but he enjoys his life in a quiet way for none of the

other doves molest him. The two Eufous Doves were almost the

nicest and gentlest doves I have ever kept, and perfect parents to

the many young' ones they reared whilst the hen lived.



