268 J. E. Sweetnam—Notes from a Somerset Aviary


two eggs in separate nests ? As there were no other adult birds in that

aviary, I presume the cock must have taken over the responsibility for

the nest deserted by the hen, but as I found her sitting on the more

developed embryos, while those under the cock appeared quite clear,

I am rather at a loss to understand how they managed it, and, although

this enterprising effort at mass production seemed to have little prospect

of success in the case of Doves, I am now rather sorry I didn’t let them

complete it, instead of removing the eggs from the cock, who then,

dove like, did his best to prevent the hen from completing the

incubation of her two eggs. Ultimately, however, they settled down

to a normal division of labour.


To date (18th September) I have reared nineteen young Diamond

Doves from two pair, the first young being hatched in February, and

eleven young from one pair of Peaceful Doves. I have found the

latter not only very prolific but much less trouble to breed than

Diamonds, since they are less liable to try and destroy their young

on commencing another nest. In fact, I have repeatedly had young

Peaceful flying with the parents while the latter were rearing the next

pair—a practice seldom or never possible in the 4 case of Diamond Doves.

This is the third season I have had these doves breeding at this rate and,

so far, I have found no ill effects revealed in either parents or young.

I am convinced that a liberal use of maw seed is one of the secrets of

success in breeding these two species of Dove, and I am now trying

it with Pigmys as well. In view of the considerable importations of

Diamond Doves, it is both surprising and unfortunate that the more

reliable and steadier Peaceful Doves should be so difficult to obtain.

They are a beautiful species which, in my experience, are much more

“ peaceful ” than other of the. Dove family both in relation to their

own and other species ; one of the pairs referred to above having reared

most of their young in the same aviary as a breeding pair of Diamonds.

My own aviary-bred Peacefuls have just started breeding, paired

to imported adults I was able to secure through the kindness of one of

our members—Mon. Decoux, of Gery, Aixe-Sur-Vienne.


Bicheno Finches have done very well here this season, one pair

having reared six young from three nests. Much the same applies to

Olive Finches, now rearing their third brood. In connection with the



