Indian (i rccn-zviiig Doves. 
87 
Indian Green-wing Doves. 
liv E. Sl'RANKLlNG. 
Ill June 1913 1 purchased from Messrs. Ue Von ..K: Co. 
;i pair of ( 'ireen-winy Doves {Chalcopliaps indica); they were 
heahliy and in good, hut not fully mature, plumage. 
'Jliis pair of hirds was kept in an outdoor aviary, about 
six feet square, with various other doves, until June nth, 1915, 
when I transferred them to a rather larger, sheltered aviary, 
containing a few finches, which adjoined a wild-kept natural 
flight. L'l) to this time, and indeed for two months later, 1 
had observed no sign or inclination on their part to nest; in fact 
they seemed to take but little interest in each other. However, 
on August 21st I noticed that some bits of straw, sticks, grass, 
etc., had been placed on a flat swinging tray, on which the 
food-pans of the birds were placed; close observation soon con- 
firmed my suspicions that the Green-wings had placed these 
sticks, etc., in this position, which was certainly a hopeless one 
for success. On the 23rd the hen laid her first buff-tinted egg; 
unfortunately it was on the floor and very much bruised, having 
evidently fallen from the food-tray swinging above ; on the 
following morning another bufT egg was laid on the tray, and 
to prevent this from falling off I placed it in a shallow earthen- 
ware pan, together with the sticks, straw, etc., composing the 
scanty nest; but the birds absolutely ignored this nest, and no 
further nesting attempt was made during the remaining months 
of this year. 
In demeanour U^ese birds were timid and wild, so much so 
that, when on one occasion in 1915 I attempted to let them have 
the full range of the wild-kept aviary, they dashed about in 
such a dangerous manner (the male Dove actually stunning 
himself and falling to the ground), that I again caught the hen 
and picked up the male bird, which was then quite dazed and 
helpless, and put them both back to their sheltered quarters 
adjoining; the stunned I^ove recovered, although I really 
thought at first the shock would kill it. 
1916 : At the beginning of April I again let the Doves, 
together with the other finches, have access to the wild flight, 
and this time, I am glad to relate, they were not so wild in their 
movements, but flew direct into an elder bush in one corner of 
