268



Stray Notes.



The Wild Turkey, the largest of the American Game¬

birds will become extinct in a few years unless radical measures

are taken to protect it. “ It is hard to realise,” writes the author

of the pamphlet now before us, “ that at the beginning of the

ninteenth century Turkeys were so abundant that they sold for

6 cents, a piece, though the largest ones, weighing from 25 to

3olbs., sometimes brought a quarter of a dollar. A big wild

Turkey now a days would not go long begging at 5 dollars.”


It seems a great pity that no systematic attempt has been

made to propagate the various species of American Grouse in

captivity. Several of the species are known to take kindly to a

captive existence, and there can be no doubt whatever that in

large enclosures or aviaries these fine birds would at any rate

lay eggs which could be hatched artificially if the birds them¬

selves would not sit. In all probability, however, the birds

would incubate naturally themselves, and being secure from their

natural enemies the several species could be propagated

extensively.



STRAY NOTES.


It is a popular fallacy that Doves are the most peaceable of birds.

We should say that ou the whole they are some of the most puguacious

birds in existence. A pair that have turned their thoughts to nesting

operations will often immediately set to work to clear every other Dove out

of the aviary. Perhaps the Australian Bar-sliouldered Dove (Geopelia

humeralis) is as bad as any in this respect and, so far as our experience goes,

it is unsafe to keep it with any other species of Dove.



The very beautiful Plumed Ground Doves (Lophophaps) are also

tremendous fighters and bullies, but being purely ground birds, other Doves

that spend most of their time aloft are fairly safe, but they will worry to

death any other ground bird from a Chinese Quail to a Pheasant, and an

unpaired member of their own species will have a short life if left in the

same aviary with a mated pair.


The Green-winged Doves ( Chalcophaps ) are again often very treach¬

erous, especially to others of their own species. The writer of these notes

had a pair of the Indian form {C. indica) which had lived together for years

and reared a numerous progeny. Suddenly the cock turned upon his mate

aud within twenty-four hours she was murdered by him.



