158 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



The nest, as in other Pigeons, is a simple platform 

 of slender sticks ; the eggs are oval, white, and two 

 in number. The birds appear to breed by preference 

 near a human habitation, and do so probably for 

 the sake of the protection afforded them; for the 

 Chimango and other birds of prey destroy their eggs 

 and young to a large extent. 



One summer a Torcasa laid an egg in the nest of 

 one of my Pigeons, built on the large horizontal 

 branch of a tree at some distance from the dove- 

 cote. The egg was hatched, and the young bird 

 reared by its foster-parents; and when able to fly 

 it took up its abode along with the other Pigeons. 

 The following spring it began to separate itself from 

 its companions, and would fly to the porch, and sit 

 there cooing by the hour every day. At length it 

 went away to the plantation, having, I believe, found 

 a mate, and we saw no more of it. 



PIGMY DOVE 

 Colwnbtda piau 



Above brownish ash-colour; head and neck dove grey; wing 

 feathers black ; coverts and secondaries like the back, white on their 

 outer edges, a band of bright blue across the tips of the lesser 

 coverts ; tail white, except the two central feathers, which are like 

 the back; beneath pale vinaceous; throat white; under wing- 

 coverts black ; bill dark, feet yellow ; length 6.5, wing 3.5 inches. 

 Female similar but duller. 



This species, the smallest of our Doves, is common 

 everywhere in the Plata district, where it is called 

 Tortolita (Little Turtle-Dove), Azara's name Picul 

 not being known to our countrymen. 



