278 The Crested Pigeon at Large.


was in April, May, and June! No artificial heat in the room

either. I do not think any pair of Sugar Birds in a cage could

look more sprightly, or be stronger. Fresh air is most impor-

tant for all birds. And yet, by the Society which one would

imagine ought to know more than most people what birds

need, these and other birds are kept in hot stuffy places, and

their lives shortened accordingly.


The airlessuess of the Parrot House is proverbial, or ought

to be, yet nothing could eclipse (not even in the Australian Bush)

a male Crimson-winged Parrot in my unheated outdoor aviary,

where he has been now for about nine years, in snow, rain, fog,

and all the other samples of the climate of England. However,,

with the Cockatoo Aviary, the authorities are finding out that

foreign birds can breathe in fresh and even cold air, and not

die, although I confess that any bird within the radius of the

dirty soot-begrimed air of 'Loudon is decidedly handicapped, not

only as to its lungs but also its plumage.


Hubert D. Astley.



THE CRESTED PIGEON AT LARGE.



Last year I turned out into my garden at Villa La Vigie

near Monte Carlo three pairs of these birds. One pair very soon

left the neighbourhood, but the other two pairs remained near

the Villa and since last year have built several nests.


A pair persisted in building their fragile home in the

branches of a pine tree quite near the house, and time after time

the eggs were blown out of the nest, and this year the male bird

was killed by flying against one of the telegraph wires ; the

other pair however were much wiser in their choice of a breeding

place, having chosen a tree with thick foliage which protected

the nest from the gales and storms ; they have already reared

successfully several broods, and although they change the trees

in which they make their nests, they are all within a few yards of

each other.


Again in April this year (1907) I have let loose six pairs of

the Crested Bronze-wing. They return to the garden, in which



