256 The Breeding oj the Cordon Hlcii at Liberty. 
under the tree in which lie had been hatched. Even the old 
bird looked none too well, and I recaptured him as soon as 
possible. The three adult Cordon Bleus at liberty seemed to 
have survived, and the only other waxbills left out — a i)air of 
\^iolet-ears — looked as jolly as if it were midsummer. Tassinj^ 
near the American bramble, I heard the chatter of an old Cordon 
Bleu in a small wild ])ear tree, and examining;' the tree v/ith my 
field-i^'lasses, 1 was astonished to see three baby Cordon Bleus, 
looking a little puffy, it is true, but by no means ill. Hovv' they 
survived cold rain, frost and bitter wind will for ever be a 
mystery to me, but there they were. Not wishing" to try their 
constitutions any further, 1 caught uj) the remaining old birds, 
putting one cock in a box cage on the to]-) of the g"arden wall 
under the pear tree. In the wire-netting top of this cage I 
arranged a kind of funnel so that it was easy for a bird on the 
outside to jump down and in, liut unlikely tliat the decoy woldd 
find his way out. The plan answered i)erfectly. After a couple 
of hours, the three little birds, growing hungry, flew down to 
the cage, and one by one entered the hole. I transferred the 
whole family to comfortable cpiarters in a warm room, where, 
in a short time, they were quite at home. 
The sexes seem to be distinguishable from the nest, as 
one young one has much more blue than the other two, which 
appear to be hens. The beaks of all three are black, not partly 
flesh-coloured, as in the adults. 
<> 
Doves as a part of a Mixed Series of Birds. 
By Wkslky r. I'.NdK, F.Z..S.. M.B.O.U. 
1 have always been interested in doves, and during my 
a\ icultural experience (45 to 46 years) I have usually possessed 
several species. 
Doves very often are very quarrelsome with other species 
t f doves, but perfectly amiable towards their smaller fellow 
captives (Fringillidac and Pluccidac), and equally so with mem- 
bers of Taiiagridac. Stiiniidac. Tnrdidae. etc. : in fact the 
pugnacity of doves appears to be exclusive)} confined towards 
iheir own kind (C olumhidae) . However, i)rovided they are not 
