IOO



Dr. A. G. Butler,



MORE ATTEMPTS TO BREED THE TAMBOURINE


DOVE.


By A. G. Butler, Pli.D.


In a paper published in the Magazine for October, 1903,

pp. 397—399, I recorded some unsuccessful efforts to breed

Tympanistria, both in and out of doors ; the only result

attained being the construction of nests and production of

infertile eggs in the bird-room. I now have to note a slight

advance in the programme, resulting in the hatching and partial

rearing of one nestling.


At the end of September I thought it wise to catch my

Doves and restore them to their indoor aviaries, a task which,

with some little personal mishaps, I safely accomplished.


Within a week the Tambourine Doves were quite

reconciled to the change from their freer life, and began to

examine their old nest-basket; shortly afterwards the cock bird

resumed its song, which I had never once heard whilst it was in

the open,* and by about the 23rd of October the first egg was

laid, and the birds began to take turns upon the nest as in the

summer. O11 the 10th of November I found the chipped half of

an egg-shell upon the floor, and knew that a youngster must

have been hatched. For three days the hen only left the nest

for a hurried meal once or twice in the day, the cock being

almost equally attentive, but sitting ]:>artly on the edge of the

nest-basket, partly over the hen.


Whether the combined attentions of both parents were too

overpowering for the young Dove, or whether they were more

anxious to keep it warm than to feed it regularly I cannot say ;

but, on the morning of the 19th both parents had left the nest,

and showed no inclination to return to it; therefore I examined

the nest, in which I found one partly feathered youngster and an

addled egg.



* Hoo, hoc, hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo, ug-gitg-gug-uggle, ugglu, uggle, is a vague

representation of it; the hoo is repeated more and more rapidly until it becomes a mere

guttural rattle.—A. G. B.



