Zbc Storp of JBirC)-2)catb. 



By W. Geo. Creswei,!., M.D. Durli., L.R.C.P., F.Z.S. 

 (Continued from page zg^. Vol. II.) * 



Oil analysis we find the two or three centuries of 

 experience of ^%g bearing no better fruit than the 

 older one of twenty centuries just quoted. Although 

 this material is held to be so conducive and indeed so 

 necessary to the well being of our birds, its very 

 votaries have no better adjective than *' delicate'' to 

 prefix to the insectivorous section that is so universally 

 fed on it. That is to say they are but short lived and 

 not easily kept in health when in captivit3^ But why 

 should they be so delicate, unless there is something 

 radically wrong in the usual feeding ? According to 

 all biological laws — that is natural laws — they are 

 much more immune than seed eaters, and should 

 therefore much less frequently be found to die of 

 septic trouble. They should also be longer lived than 

 the hard bills because being much more confiding and 

 more tolerant of captivit\^ they do not suffer so much 

 from nervous shock. Yet according to a correspondent 

 of one of the weekly papers, who lately tried to 

 deprecate any adaptation of science to aviculture, 

 even the "best of fanciers " can only keep any of the 

 Warbler family alive for a few weeks. A few days 

 spent in an}^ pathological laboratory where avine 

 disease is being investigated would show him the 

 reason why, and he would get a full confirmation of 

 what after all was not a very flattering testimonial on 

 his part to the value of his favourite food. Taking 

 the general sense of what one reads in print and of 

 what I find in my voluminous correspondence, it is 

 undeniable that as a whole the soft bill section of 



* Before perusing- this instalment of " The Story of Bird-Death " our 

 readers are advised to re-read the instahnent which appeared last month— 

 for the two were intended to appear together.— Ed. 



