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appeared and either called to or went out to him. It was a 

 strange and amusing sight to watch the big, ungainly creature 

 struggling along the gravel walks, very rough and uncomfort- 

 able to the webbed feet one would think, in his endeavours to 

 keep pace with human footsteps, following like a dog, happy 

 and satisfied. When left to himself the bird seemed quite lost, 

 and would wander about in a disconsolate manner as if missing 

 his friend and companion, and was found at least once in the 

 village, quite half a mile from the house. 



This went on for some months until an accident kept his 

 owner within doors for weeks, and the cygnet finding himself 

 neglected, wisely gave up his nomad habits and returned to 

 the lake, where he and a new companion now live peaceably 

 together and have quite succeeded in keeping down the 

 objectionable w^eed. They are both beautiful birds with snow 

 white plumage now, very tame and feed out of our hands, 

 coming right from the farther end of the lake when called. 

 We have had them pinioned, so now have no fear of losing 

 them by flight. N. M. E. Ward. 



THE DANYSZ MOUSE VIRUS. 

 Sir, — In one of your previous Editorials I noticed you 

 spoke very favourably of the Danysz rat and mouse virus in 

 freeing your aviaries of mice. Shortly afterwards, owing to 

 the fact that my stables, house, and aviaries were infested with 

 mice, I determined to try the virus. After using it twice 

 within a month I quickly cleared the place of these pests, so 

 that I liave not seen one for weeks. It is quite harmless, as 

 I have fed my carnivorous birds on the carcases of the dead 

 mice picked up, without in the least discomforting the birds. 

 It is much better than " poison," as there is no risk of poisonitig 

 your neighbours' animals or your own. Again, it makes a 



much quicker job than poison. 



Hhnry Gray, M.R.C.V.S. 



