158 Breeding of the new Pigeon Hollandais.


aviary (6 m. by 4 m.) planted with thick bushes, in which I placed

several nests. In the early days of August an egg was again laid

in a very small basket, placed higher than all the others, in a witch-

elm.


This nest was left alone for fear of disturbing the birds who

were sitting, and towards August 25th, it was seen that it contained

a young one a few days old, rather similar to those of many

granivorous doves.


For want of sufficient careful observation, lam unable to state

exactly the period of incubation; but I believe it to have been about

eighteen days.


The young one grew rapidly; by September 12th it was

completely covered with feathers and able to hy; it left the nest,

spending the day on the branches of the tree, and slept between

both the parents at night.


The parents fed it on their own customary diet—crushed

potatoes, hemp-seed, and boiled rice, with sweetened milk and

bananas. The latter fruit was unobtainable from September 10th,

and was replaced by pears, but the young pigeon did not suffer from

the effects of them, as I was afraid it might.


During the period of incubation and growth, the weather

was constantly rainy and cool, but a square of “ fibro-cement ”

placed on the aviary above the nest kept it dry.


Some authors declare that the “ Pigeon Hollandais ” lays two

eggs per clutch. This may the case in their own country (Seychelles

Islands) ; but it is to be remarked that in this case these birds each

time produced only one egg.


The first plumage of the young one is quite different from that

of the parents. It resembles, generally speaking, that of certain

granivorous young doves, which the young “ Pigeon Hollandais ”

resembles also in general build, with the exception that the beak is

a little shorter, the feet larger and stronger, and the body stouter.


The head is grey, with a dark-grey crown in the place of the

red crown of the adult bird. There are no caruncles, but there is a

bare place, whose colour is rosy-grey, between the beak and the eye.

Beak rosy-grey, eye brown. Collar grey ; under parts light grey;

ck dull grey, each feather being bordered with light grey ; the



