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Carl Naether—Concerning Foreign Doves



Even though it has been my wish for a long time to raise some

Cape Doves, I was not successful until I placed their eggs under Diamond

Doves which, being usually excellent feeders, raised the young Cape

Doves as willingly and well as if they had been their own flesh and

blood. From now on I shall use the Diamond Doves to help raise

other small Doves of the rarer varieties.


Almost every summer I am considerably troubled by gopher snakes

and lizards, which can do tremendous damage in a bird house in a very

short time. Thus, on going through my aviaries yesterday, I was

surprised to find the female Cape Dove ofl the nest. Immediate inspec¬

tion of it disclosed no trace of the eggs ; several Finches’ nests had

likewise been robbed of their contents. My search for the culprit

was soon rewarded ; hidden in brush I came upon a two-foot gopher

snake which was eyeing me curiously. Certain—largely distended—por¬

tions of its writhing body proved to me that the reptile had devoured

the dozen or more eggs but a short while before. I soon caught it.

If gopher snakes come upon fairly good-sized squabs, like those

of Bronze-wings last year, which they cannot swallow, they will strangle

them anyhow. I presume the proximity of many poultry establish¬

ments in this vicinity attracts the gopher snakes, for they are known

to be excellent mousers, and generally quite useful and harmless.


This season I seem to have exceptionally good luck with a pair of

Australian Crested Doves. At this time of writing they have raised five

youngsters, and have two more in the nest. This is an exceptionally

good record, for this particular pair, in view of the fact that last year

they invariably left their young to die of starvation. The only change

which I have made in their care consists of the addition of fresh lettuce

and some bread to their daily menu, which they relish greatly. Meal¬

worms they refuse consistently. The giving of this bit of soft food seems

to be responsible for the sudden change in their behaviour. Whereas

the birds, when on a straight seed diet, were frequently restless and

discontented, as if they lacked something, they are now quite content

and have, as stated before, become excellent feeders of their young.


Next to the Australian Crested Dove, the Indian Greenwing is a

delightfully dependable breeder and feeder. Its only fault is its great

.shyness, which prompts the bird to leave its nest so suddenly as often



