ay MY FOREIGN DOVES AND PIGEONS. 
two people to do this 
work, for besides one 
holding up the branch 
whilst the other wires, 
it is so much easier 
for the person ”ot on 
the steps to judge of 
the effect from below, 
as to whether a branch 
is in a good position ; 
sometiines two or 
three places must 
be tried before the 
best is really settled 
on 
PLUMED GRouxD Dove. : 
In addition to the branches, I have numerous 
perches fixed in the aviary, by simply boring holes 
in the woodwork and knocking the perches firmly 
in with a hammer. Where the woodwork is not 
deep enough for a hole, it is easy to screw a block 
of wood on to the woodwork and make your hole 
in the block. A very good perch is an unvarnished 
broom handle (costing 2d.) cut up into three short 
or two longer lengths, one end being slightly pared 
where it is to be knocked into the wood, as a 
perch with a slanting end drives ‘“Shome”’ so much 
better into the woodwork than if the hole and 
perch were exactly the saine size. These broom 
handles seem just the right size for doves’ feet— 
except for the very tiny varieties, when a slight 
bamboo stick might be used, but it would have the 
drawback of being rather cold to the birds’ feet. 
Every dove has its own particular roosting-place, 
and this must not be invaded by any other bird, 
so when you get a fresh arrival be very careful not 
to introduce it straight off to the others towards 
evening. 
The best and wisest plan is really to keep the 
newcomer in a cage for the night, with a few 
drops of Syrup of Phosphate of Iron in its drink- 
ing water, and then, next day, when it is 
thoroughly rested, to turn it in with your other 
birds, early in the day. You must keep a very 
careful look out, going down to the aviary oftener 
than usual, to see if your birds are agreeing 
together, for if there is going to be any fighting 
it will probably begin at once. If you find the 
birds inclined to attack each other, take the new- 
comer away. It is hopeless to try to make birds 
agree when once they have decided to be enemies. 
Your ‘spring cleaning”? in the aviary and the 
fixing of your branches should all be complete by 
the beginning of March. Probably you will find 
your birds—or some of them—will want to start 
nesting in February, but such haste should be 
severely discouraged. You will now have to decide 
how many birds you can place in each aviary, and 
which birds will be friendly with others. Take 
this as one of your best mottoes: ‘‘Never over- 
crowd.’’ It is very tempting to do this; one keeps 
thinking the aviary will hold ‘‘just one pair more,” 
and studying the different bird sale lists only makes 
the temptation stronger. At one time I got the 
bird-buying fever so badly that at last I had to 
resolutely pass over the sale column for fear I 
should succumb. All the same, if you arg strong- 
minded enough to be able to read and not to pur- 
chase, by all means study the lists every week—it 
will teach you the value of birds, and how the 
prices vary according to the seasons when certain 
birds are shipped, and so you may judge when it 
is the wisest and also the cheapest time to 
purchase. 
Having told you something of my doves’ every- 
day life, I will now tell you something about their 
nesting. 
CHAPTER II. 
NESTING. 
Tue aviculturalise who loves his (or her) birds 
looks forward very much to the bright days of 
spring and summer, when the winter is a thing 
of the past and the nesting season has come. I 
always feel, however badly my birds have done one 
vear, the next may be a better one, for should not 
every year bring more experience, and experience 
more chance of success? And so I start again 
with renewed hope. 
It is important, first of all, that you start with 
your aviary clean—the paint washed, the white- 
wash renewed, if needed. You will have little 
Crestep Dove. 
Photo: Mr. H. Willford. 
chance to do this later on without disturbing the 
birds, and your places should at any rate Start 
free from insects and dirt. So I would advise you 
to clean down early, and after you have done this 
