THE DOVE FAMILY

      (Columbidœ).

      The Cape Dove—The Barred Dove—The Graceful Ground Dove—The Barred-shouldered Dove—The Australian Crested Dove—The Blood-breasted Pigeon—The Indian Green-winged Pigeon—The Australian Green-winged Pigeon—The Bronze-spotted Dove—The Tambourine Pigeon—The Java Dove—The Egyptian Turtle Dove, &c.

      DOVES have long enjoyed the reputation of being the most peaceful and gentle creatures on earth, and a belief in their merits, and especially in their fidelity and affection for their mates and young, has long been current among mankind—so long, indeed, that I feel a natural repugnance to “hold the mirror up to nature” in their case and display them in their true colours, divested of the fictitious adornments wherewith they have been invested by inaccurate observers, at a time when little was known of natural history, and the imaginative descriptions of a few writers were accepted without questioning as accurate, and handed down by successive generations of writers, who lacked either the leisure or the opportunity to investigate this subject for themselves, as veritable sun-pictures of which the fidelity was indisputable.

      THE CAPE DOVE, Œna capensis, also very frequently called the Harlequin Dove, on account of the black mask, or “domino,” worn by the adult male, is a pretty little bird, about the size of a skylark, but of slimmer build, and with a much longer tail.

      As the English name implies, it comes to us from South Africa, and is one of the most desirable inmates of the columbarium. Care, however, must be taken not to lodge it with any of the larger or more pugnacious members of its family, by whom it would be speedily killed, for it is one of the most defenceless little creatures I have ever come across, permitting itself to be bullied to any extent by birds no bigger than a sparrow, without offering any resistance, or even remonstrance, beyond a little grunt and a slight raising of the wing.

      The general colour is grey of several shades, and the male may be at once known by his black face. These birds nest freely in confinement, but the young are not always reared, for unless the weather is very warm, they die as soon as the old birds cease to brood them at night. They have not bred in my aviary, where they were too much disturbed by other birds, but have done so freely in that of a lady in the South of England, who thinks them the most delightful of Doves, “perfectly charming, but for the constantly recurring tragedy of their young.” It is, however, satisfactory to find that patience had its appropriate reward, and that a pair of young Cape Doves were at length successfully reared to maturity, to rejoice their owner’s heart by their gentleness and docility.

      THE BARRED DOVE, Geopelia striata (see Fig. 3), is also known, especially in the trade, as the Zebra Dove. It is a native of India, and is a very pretty bird, about the size of a thrush, and has bred at the “Zoo,” as well as in several private aviaries. The plumage is, generally, fawn-grey, prettily marked with narrow, wavy black markings, from which its names are derived.

      FIG. 3. THE BARRED DOVE.

      THE GRACEFUL GROUND DOVE, Geopelia cuneata (illustrated at Fig. 4), is also called the Diamond Dove. It is about the same size as the Barred Dove, but is of a light grey, prettily marked on the sides and wings with black and white spots, whence its common English name. It is a native of Australia, but has reared young in the London Zoological Gardens.

      FIG. 4. THE GRACEFUL GROUND DOVE.

      THE BARRED-SHOULDERED DOVE, Geopelia humeralis, like the preceding species, is a native of Australia, and has also reproduced its kind at the “Zoo.” It is a trifle larger than the two last-named species, but is equally attractive and desirable as an inmate of the aviary.

      These small Doves are best fed on white millet, which is a kind of sorghum, dari, and canary-seed; hemp is objectionable, and care should be taken to supply them with an abundance of coarse grit, as well as a lump of rock-salt, and an unfailing supply of fresh water. Heather sprays form the best material for their nests, which are but slight affairs, and usually constructed on an artificial basis, such as the top of one of those small wicker cages in which so many canaries are brought over from Germany to this country.

      THE AUSTRALIAN CRESTED DOVE, Ocyphaps lophotes, is a very delightful species, about the size of the common Barbary or Collared Turtle. As its name implies, its head is ornamented with an upstanding crest, constructed on the same principle as that of the cockatiel. The general colour is grey, with bronze reflections on the wings and neck, and the long, broad tail is prettily barred with white. When the bird alights on its perch it has a habit of slightly spreading and jerking up the tail, that is very curious. It is a ground-loving bird, and only resorts to the trees for sleeping purposes at night. In confinement, however, the Crested Dove’s habits vary a good deal, and it passes much of its time dozing side by side with its mate on a branch.

      The female bears a close resemblance to the male, but is decidedly smaller, and has a finer head and thinner neck. These birds breed freely in confinement, and I have known of one pair from which seventeen young were obtained in one season by giving their eggs to Collared Turtles to be hatched.

      THE BLOOD-BREASTED PIGEON, Phlogœnas cruentata, is another fine species. It is a native of the Philippine Islands, and succeeds very well in confinement. Its English name is derived from a curious red spot on the centre of its white breast, which gives one the impression that the bird has just been stabbed, and that the mark in question is a stain of blood. It is a short, thick bird, about the size of a small Tumbler Pigeon.

      THE INDIAN GREEN-WINGED PIGEON, Chalcophaps indica (illustrated at Fig. 5), is a very desirable bird, rather smaller than the last-named, but equally plump and compact in form. As its name implies, it is a native of our Indian Empire, where it is sufficiently common, but so hardy that it will pass the winter out-of-doors in this country without inconvenience. The breast is a delicate rosy or vinaceous tint, and the back and wings shine with metallic reflections. The female is smaller than her mate, and much duller in appearance. These pigeons have bred in confinement. Feed on any kind of small corn.

      FIG. 5. THE INDIAN GREEN-WINGED PIGEON.

      THE AUSTRALIAN GREEN-WINGED PIGEON, Chalcophaps chrysochlora, is readily distinguishable