77/r I'inti Duvc 
259 
Tlicy s^ive variety and interest to the collection, not 
merely in point of size, but also in form and habits, as they differ 
i^reatly from their fellow captives; whatever they be. 
Their menu is very simple, in fact nothing extra is needed 
beyond the seed supplied for a jnixed series of Fringillidac , but it 
lessens the aviary seed bill considerably to supply them with a 
iiiixture of small grain (wheat, hemp, dari, maize); grit and rock 
salt should be continually in the aviary, as in my opinion few 
doves do well without these two items. 
They are hardy and long enduring birds; all the species 
named in this paper, as well as many others, have been success- 
fully wintered out of doors, for a series of years, both by myself 
and other aviculturists. 
0 
The Picui Dove (Cohimbiila picui). 
By W. Shore B.mi.y. 
Very few doves of any kind have been imported during 
the last six or seven years, and when, last autumn, I saw a small 
pair of South American Doves offered for sale, I thought myself 
lucky to secure them, more especially as an invasion of rats had 
wiped out my collection of small doves, including Diamond, 
Zebra, Peaceful, and Cape Doves. 
When possible I like a pair of doves in each aviary, as 
they generally agree well with the other occupants, and there 
is always a chance of their breeding. 
My Picui Doves came over with the Yellow Seed-finches, 
on the nesting of which an article has already appeared in 
" B.N." They are pretty birds, just a trifle larger than the 
well known Diamond Dove, but have a shorter tail. Their 
distinctive feature is a black bar running across the wing. My 
pair is not so tame as most of the pairs of Diamond Doves that 
^ 1 have kept, but they do not hide away in corners, and are 
nearly always on view. I don't know whether they are consid- 
ered delicate, but I think that they would be better indoors 
during the winter months. I have generally brought in my 
Diamond Doves in November, and had I done so last season I 
