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Herbert Bright—



a sign of them for a week and then I found one, then some days later

I saw the other, but it was days later still before the old birds brought

the young ones into the bird house where the birds are fed ; now they

come regularly, and I have seen them feeding on several occasions.

The young are rather unusual-looking birds, being smoky black all

over except for a slightly grey shade on face and breast. There is

hardly a trace of the beatiful purplish sheen of the old birds and no

white markings. The beak is light horn-colour, but is turning quickly

darker. The young hen is a little lighter in colour and a little greyer

on face and breast than the cock, also at present a little smaller.

Although my birds spend very little time on the ground, I think they

have a decided look of the Bleeding Heart Pigeon. The only sound

I have heard them make is a very unmusical grunt. The cock made

this noise continually when driving the hen to nest. They still go

about with the two young ones, which are very wild, and have evidently

finished all breeding operations for this season. I have found them

quite good tempered with other Doves, and have never seen them take

the slightest notice of the numerous other Doves in the aviary, nor have

any of the other Doves interfered with them.


SUCCESSFUL BREEDING OF THE ISABELL1NE

TURTLE-DOVE ( TURTUR ISHBELLINUS ) 1

By Herbert Bright


The Isabelline Turtle-dove bears a strong resemblance to the

Wild Turtle-dove (T. tartur), but is of a warmer coloration and presents

an even more pleasing appearance.


Description. —Entire head, back of neck, sandy-brown (isabelline);

upper back, fawn-colour ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts,

dark fawn-colour ; the feathers of the lower back with dusky centres ;

wings, cinnamon-brown ; under parts, vinous-brown ; abdomen and

ventral region, white ; tail, central feathers dusky-brown, broadly

tipped with brown, remaining feathers blackish-brown, broadly tipped

whitish fawn-colour. On the sides of the neck are two blackish


p Tartar tartar isabellina is a subspecies or geographical race of the common

Turtle-dove.—E d.]



