4<S Post Mortem Reports. 



Mr. Seth Smith describes llie disi)l;iy, Tlic Field, Feb. ist, as follows: 

 " The first sta.^e of tlie display, which, however, is sometimes 



'■ omitted Tlie bird utters a series of notes resembling qua, 



'■ qua, qua. bends slightly forward and erects the sides of the pectoral 

 " shield, fluffing out the feathers and then slightly contracting them, 

 " during which the tints change from green to purple. Meanwhile the 

 " mouth is continually being opened and shut, exhibiting its apple-green 

 '■ lining. Tt is noticeable that at this stage the central band of 



" iridescent feathers is invisible, being entirely hidden by the fluffy green 

 " plumes surrounding it, and the same ajiplies to the metallic terminal 

 ' band to the shield. Neither, at this stage is the hood erected." 



" Then as in a flash, a very remarkable transformation takes place. 

 " The body is erected to its utmost ; the pectoral shield becomes a smooth, 

 '■ broad ribbon of shining green, its sides being parallel, and its surface 

 'like burnished metal; the central band of metallic feathers and the 

 " terminal band become conspicuous, while the hood, which before lay 

 " hidden on tlie back, is erected above the head, with its edges meeting 

 " the upper edges of the green pectoral shield. . , . D. Seth Smith." 



-<>- 



Post Mortem Reports. 



January 2nd. Mal.achite SuNBiKO ((5): Hon. Mrs. Bourke, 75 Gloucester 



Place, W. — Double pneumonia. 

 January ist. Blue Budgerigar (9): Hon. Mrs. Bourke. — Fatty degener- 

 ation of liver, with a terminal congestion of lungs. 

 J;;nuary 7th. Tanager : H. G. the Duchess of Wellington, Ewhurst Park, 



Basingstoke. — Advice and sex given by post. 

 January 8th. — Passerine Parr.\keet : W. R. H. Bearby, West Hartlepool. ^ — 



Answered by post, 

 January 17th. Bluebird : H. G. the Duchess of Wellington. — Answered 



by post. 

 January i8th. Tanager : H. G. the Duchess of Wellington. — Answered 



by post. 

 Fcbruarv' i8th. Nonpareil Bunting (c?). Indigo Bunting (9) : H. Whitley, 



Paignton, S. Devon. — Both birds were suffering from an acute enteritis; 



all other organs were normal. 

 February 27th. Palm Tanager: H. Whitlev, S Devon. — Enteritis; all other 



organs normal. 



C. H. HICKS. 



