Successful Breeding of the Isabelline Turtle-dove 171


patches variegated with fawn-colour, and the neck is flushed with

refulgent vinous-pink. Bare skin round the eyes, red ; legs and feet,

red. Total length, 11| inches, of which the tail measures nearly

5 inches (approximately 4| inches).


The female is slightly duller, more slenderly built, and the ashy-

wash on the sides of body and back more distinct than in the male.


Juvenal plumage very similar to adults, but paler, and the under

parts are sandy brown ; no neck patches.


It is a native of North-East Africa, and is a very pretty and hand¬

some Dove. I obtained these birds from Mr. Rogers, of Liverpool, who,

I believe, got them from the Giza Zoo at Cairo. There were four

of this species among various other Doves, and I liked them so well

that I brought them away with me. On my arrival home, the weather

being warm and fine, I selected what I felt sure were a true pair, and

turned them into my large aviary—I had no hesitation in doing this,

as the birds were in perfect condition and plumage.


The outward difference between the sexes being infinitesimal, I first

picked out, as a hen, the smallest and slimmest bird of the four, and

then took the largest and boldest of the other three, and felt pretty

sure that I had picked out a true pair, and later events proved this

to be correct. The other two I put into another aviary, and I feel

sure they are both of the same sex, as they have never shown the least

inclination to pair nor make any attempt to construct a nest. -I

believe them to be males.


The pair in the large aviary settled down almost at once, and in

about a fortnight I saw the cock driving the hen about and displaying

to her, but, at first, she took but little notice of him. She evidently

had not fully got over the importation journey and change of home,

but the male persisted and a little later I saw her carrying small

twigs into a clump of elder bushes, in the forks of which they constructed

a fairly substantial nest of stout twigs for the base and finer twigs on

top. The hen laid almost immediately, and in due course hatched

out two squabs, which were fully reared. They remained in the nest

until they were fully feathered, and there was barely room for both.

I looked at them several times, and began to wonder when they would

venture out, for they appeared as well grown as their parents.



