Herbert Bright—Breeding the White-breasted Ground Pigeon 169


except that one had its wing cut short right across the primary flights.


I let both birds have their liberty, thinking they would be all right,

but found the cut-winged bird climbed up as high as possible and then

went bump on the floor of the aviary when anyone came near, so I had

to cage it until the flights were renewed. This took some weeks, but

may have helped to induce the birds to breed, the weather being fine

when I gave this bird its liberty, and the two birds were evidently

delighted to meet. They soon started to go to nest, selecting a well-

sheltered spot in a creeper growing thickly on one of the standards

of the outdoor flight. Here they sat and, I believe, hatched one young

one—I saw them feeding for a few days, but they left the nest after

that and I found only a clear egg there. Both nest and egg closely

resembled the usual Doves’ nest, consisting of a few thin twigs lightly

put together. The cock was very wild, and used to dash off when anyone

came near the aviary. I think he must have thrown the first young one

out in one of his wild rushes. He actually did this in the second nest,

only I fortunately found the young one on the ground and put it back

in the nest. It was about four days old at the time. The birds selected

a precisely similar position for their next nest, but this time it was the

corner post by the door of the aviary, and I had faint hopes of rearing

any young ones. However, fortune favoured me, and all went well.

The hen never flew off her eggs or yok ing , except on one occasion, when

they were just about ready to fly, and I tried to get a good look at the

family. The hen got nervous and dashed off, and out flopped first one

and then the other of the two young birds. It was a cold damp evening,

so I thought I would try and put them back in the nest, but had

slight hopes that they would stop there. I have tried several times

to do this on previous occasions with other Doves but always

found the young birds jump out again. However, this time I got

both of them and put them in together, keeping my hand over

them for a little time, and then taking it quickly away again when

I saw the hen coming back. I slipped away and the hen

came right on to the nest and settled down for the night. They

remained in the nest two days after this, although the older bird was

well able to get about when I disturbed them. The younger one

was not quite fully feathered. After leaving the nest, I never saw



