308 Miscellaneous, 



in Gillolo, and described in the Proceedings of 1844 under the name 

 of Goura VictoricBy by Mr. L. Fraser, is not the female of Goura 

 coronata, as has been suggested, but a true and distinct species. 



The number of Crowned Pigeons in possession of the Society having 

 been reduced to a single female of Goura VictoricBy and a male of 

 Goura coronata, they were placed, by my direction, in the same divi- 

 sion of the old Aviary. In the beginning of June last it was observed 

 that they had paired. About two months afterwards they began to 

 make attempts at the construction of a nest. In the open part of the 

 Aviary there was a large branch of a tree fixed transversely, as a perch, 

 about six feet from the ground. They commenced their work by 

 carrying up twigs and pieces of stick which had been purposely placed 

 within their reach, to the extremity of the perch, and vainly endea- 

 voured to fabricate a platform on this slippery and insufficient foun- 

 dation. The careful keeper watched their difficulty, and supplied 

 them with the necessary support by fixing there a flat piece of basket- 

 work. 



They now began in earnest, and on the 15th of iVugust they ceased 

 from their labour, during which the male had generally carried up the 

 materials and the female disposed of them. On this eventful day it is 

 supposed the single egg was laid, but it was so constantly covered by 

 one or other of the birds, that the keeper did not get sight of it for 

 some time afterwards. The nest was within a few feet of the front of 

 the Aviary, which during the period of incubation was passed by many 

 thousands of visitors : still so adroitly did the birds watch their oppor- 

 tunity, that I heard of no instance, except that in which the keeper 

 saw the egg, in which they were discovered in the act of relieving 

 each other. The exposed situation of the nest, which was very 

 slightly protected by the thin foliage of a climbing rose, rendered me 

 apprehensive of the effects of the weather on the young bird, which 

 was hatched on the 13th of September. It was covered with con- 

 stant assiduity by one or other of the parents, who fed it while be- 

 neath them. Whether from excess of care or from accident I know 

 not, but it was found dead in the nest on the morning of the 1 7th, 

 the mother still sitting there with unmoved constancy, and over- 

 shadowing the dead corpse with her warm breast, as if incredulous of 

 her bereavement. 



On the 24th of October another egg was produced, but, having 

 been dropped from a perch in the house, was found broken on the 

 ground. These birds are still in admirable health, and I have hope 

 that if they breed at an earlier period in the approaching season, they 

 will have better fortune, and succeed in bringing their produce to 

 maturity. 



While upon this subject, I may perhaps not inappropriately advert 

 to another Columbine hybrid, of which two specimens exist in the 

 Collection, the produce of Ectopistes migratorius ^ and Turtur ri- 

 sorius ? . They have neither the tail of Ectopistes nor the collar of 

 risorius, and to any one who was ignorant of their origin, would pre- 

 sent indubitable indications of at least specific distinction. 



