3°S



Dr. A. G. Butler,



After the hatching of the second egg neither parent

appeared outside until 11.15 a.m., then the cock bird appeared,

the lieu not leaving the nest until the afternoon ; on the following

day however this arrangement was partially reversed, the hen

appearing early, but the cock not until 11.45.


I was so nervous about disturbing the doves when feeding

the young, that I did not dare to approach the back of the aviary

to discover how matters were prospering until July 3rd, when

being alarmed by noticing that the male was chasing the female

about and cooing in his strange fashion, I made up my mind to

look into things. I discovered that the nesting-site which I

had prepared had been but little altered and that it contained two

young birds of most singular appearance about the size of a full-

grown Sparrow, but with downy long hairs standing up all over

their heads between the sprouting feathers which also stood away

from the crown ; as compared with their parents they had a

very tawny appearance.



Tympanistria tympanistria .


19 days old.



I described the colouring of the young when nine days old

( Avic. Mag., N.S., Vol. II., p. 101) and a lamentable accident

enabled me to describe and sketch the young when nineteen days

of age. On the 6th July the cock parent in a fit of exuberant

spirits flew so tempestuously over the nest that both of his chil¬

dren sprang over the side to the cement floor. Unfortunately I

had not prepared for such an emergency by strewing hay over the

ground and the younger bird fell upon its back and was unable to

turn over, the other toddled away to the back of the thicket from



