330



Dr. A. G. Butler,



and middle distance, great clouds of them far out and low above the

horizon. Often a steamer will pass for an hour at a time through

straggling flocks of sea-fowl.


The above is no exaggeration ; it is no picture of some far off

coast or island, inaccessible, sea girt and little known. Except for

the Gulls, of which only a few remain during the summer, it is to be

seen with little variation for 365 days in the year ; and is to be seen

equally from the uninhabited sands of the Sechura Desert, as from

the shore, less the one hour’s walk from the most southerly point

served by the Lima tram cars.


The foregoing notes refer to a period of slightly over six years

actual residence in South America, during which no opportunity was

lost of observing birds and their ways ; the writer has jotted down

incidents that depict spectacular Ornithology likely to attract the

attention of the least observant ; so that it may be seen that in that

region of the world most richly endowed with bird-life—“ the Great

Bird Continent ”—how few and far between these wonderful sights

really are.



THIRTY-TWO YEARS OF AVICULTURE.


By Dr. A. G. Butlek.


(Concluded from page 295).


Few of the Doves and Pigeons can surpass the Bronzewings

for beauty and brilliance of colouring, and none excel the African

species for amiability towards their associates : to this general rule

however the quaint little Cape-Dove is an exception ; since males of

that species, and especially in the breeding-season, fight each other. I

I have only had two males, so that I never was in a position to attempt

to breed it; a feat which the late Dr. Russ considered difficult of

accomplishment. With the Tambourine Dove, after some years of

failure I was at last successful, as already recorded in this Magazine.

Mr. T. L. Bonstow gave me a pair in 1902 which bred in 1906, 7,

and 8 : the male of this pair is still in good health as I write.' 1 '


* This species was bred shortly afterwards in this country, but I doubt

whether even now it has been bred on the Continent.



