on the Nesting of the Rufous Dove. 271


It revived the taste I had always had for these birds. I read and

re-read it, wondering if I ever should be fortunate enough to

possess all the doves whose portraits were depicted, but such

good fortune seemed almost too much to expect.


I must start with small beginnings, so I began my small

collection with a pair of British Turtle-doves, gradually getting

more birds until now I have about twenty-six kinds of doves and

pigeons. But there are still many more that I am ambitious to

possess, and I can honestly say the more doves I have the more

I want. Aviaries, however, are not expansive, and doves are—

fortunately—hardy, healthy and long lived, and as I do not

care to part with old favourites in exchange for new ones, I

have to limit my numbers.


I got my first pair of Rufous Doves in September, 1902. To

be more correct only one (the hen bird) was a Rufous, the cock

is a dove I do not know the name of, but for convenience I will

call it the Green Dove. These two birds, though rather alike in

shape and size were quite different in colour. The true Rufous

has an olive brown back and wings. The forehead is a lovely blue

grey, the breast a warm rufous colour. A purple wash covers the

shoulders. In size it is rather larger than a Bleedingheart but of

a more upright build. The Rufous always looks as if it might

have been sitting in a sunset, and caught some of the glow : its

colour is so rich and warm.


The Green cock is rather larger, of a greyish colour,

getting darker on the back and wings. It has a most beautiful

green sheen on the neck, like the green pearl in a shell, the eyes

orange, and the inside of the wings a lovely copper colour. So

many of the doves, Rufous, Bleedingheart, Bronzewing, Violet,

and others have this last peculiarit} 7 , and it is most noticeable

when the bird is bathing in a shower. To-day I was watching

one of my Bronzewings laid perfectly motionless on its side in

the heavy rain, with one wing stretched in a splendid arch over

its back, showing the lovely copper lining to perfection. Any¬

one not used to the little ways of Doves, would have thought it

dead, or very ill, but it was merely enjoying a shower bath to its

heart’s content.



