254



Notes on the Maiden Dove.



near relationship of the three species; that they have auy right

to be placed in three different genera I don’t believe for a

moment, nor do I think, that the dissimilar ground-colouring of

the three ought to be considered in a generic diagnosis. The

song of Tympanistria is far more prolonged, as a general rule,

than that of the two others ; but they all sing in the same fashion

— Hoo — hoo—hoo — hoo slowly and emphatically, then rapidly ;

but I have only heard Tympanistria finish by running all the end

notes together with a sort of guttural rattle.


Unlike the Australian Bronzewings which spend much

time on the earth, and which certainly have a far higher claim to

the term Ground-Doves than the Zenaidince , which rarely come

down excepting to feed ; these African doves spend most of their

time either on a branch or on the wing. If the hen descends to

the earth to eat or drink, the cock will follow and wander about

after her, sometimes stopping to utter his remarkable song and

then at the conclusion racing after his mate, which more fre¬

quently than not immediately flies to a branch.


Unlike the Australian Bronzewings, probably because of

the comparatively inconspicuous character of the metallic

patches, these African birds do not elevate their wings in front

of the expanded tail when courting, but merely slightly open and

quiver them ; the tail remains depressed, but the head is slightly

bent forward and the throat and chest expanded much as in the

illustration of Leptoptilajamaicensis in last year’s Magazine ; but

with a deeper stoop forwards, and the wings generally rather

more open.



