Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/296

246 but the Australian Green-winged Dove (Chalcophaps chrysochlora), the Bronze-winged Pigeon (Phaps chalcoptera), and the Australian Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) raise their wings over their backs in front of the erected and spread tail; as they bow, both tail and flight feathers open and shut, whilst with every action the birds utter a rapid grunting monosyllabic coo. The hen Bronze-wing often mounts the cock bird when pairing, and I supposed at first that this was owing to my male being rather old and afflicted with gouty toes; but my friend Mr. Seth-Smith tells me that he has seen his birds behave in the same manner.

Wells's Ground-Dove (Leptoptila wellsi) behaves exactly in the same way as the Peristeridæ, and pairs freely with the Martinican Dove, taking turns with it in sitting on the eggs, but up to July of this year without result, the eggs not being fertile.

The Bleeding-heart Pigeon (Phlogœnas luzonica) rarely bows to its hen, although I have seen it do so; it usually races after her at full speed, its head bobbing forwards at each step. As it nears her it stops, depresses its tail, throws out its breast, draws back its head, and utters a smothered coo, rocking backwards and forwards on its feet; it thus exhibits the beautiful deep crimson-and-rose patch on the breast to perfection. I have also seen it stop suddenly, quiver its wings, and utter a rapid "gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu." When the hen Bleeding-heart persistently evades its pursuer, he eventually loses his temper; and then a new feature is introduced into his wooing. As he still chases her, he claps his wings over his back, making a sharp noise like the loud crack of a whip; this seems greatly to alarm the hen. I have wondered whether a similar sound produced by our Goatsucker is intended to subdue its mate.

The Nicobar Pigeon (Calœnas nicobarica) is a singularly surly bird, and I have never seen him make any attempt to woo his mate. All she ever got from him was a savage blow from his powerful wing, or his almost equally powerful bill, accompanied by a deep grunt. He is a great awkward cowardly bird, more like a Guinea-fowl than a Pigeon; and, but for his brilliant colouring, I do not think many aviculturists would care to keep him.