THE MUSEUM. 



337 



Fossil Fish from Green River, Wyoming. 



birds, too, seem to understand all this, 

 and evince their appreciation by signs, 

 and sometimes utterances, which show 

 how deeply they appreciate the kind 

 offices of their physicians. 



According to Mr. Cross, birds are 

 subject to nearly all the ailments 

 which infect humanity. The parrot 

 particularly, which may be considered 

 the autocrat of the feathered tribes 

 leads all birddom in the number and 

 variety of diseases to which it is sub- 

 ject. Pneumonia, catarrh, consump- 

 tion, diphtheria, tonsillitis, and a wide 

 range of other throat troubles are 

 among the common ailments of this 

 popular pet. Even gout among the 

 more highly favored in the matter of 

 ownership is not uncommon among 

 these the upper ten of birddom. 



Mr. Cross explains that the most 

 fruitful sources of disease among par- 

 rots are improper food and careless- 

 ness on the part of their owners in 

 leaving doors and windows open while 

 the birds are moulting, so that they 

 then contract colds. Improper food 

 results in stomach troubles, frequently 



catarrh of the stomach. This is 

 brought on most frequently by feeding 

 the birds potatoes and other greasy 

 food. In the case ot Charley, the 

 Colorado parrot, his distemper was 

 brought on by eating meat and greasy 

 food from his owner's table. The 

 moulting season is the dangerous time 

 for all captive birds, and as this is the 

 parrot's season for shedding his feath- 

 ers, sick birds of that species now pre- 

 dominate at the hospital. 



Mocking-birds and canaries moult 

 later, in the early fall, and Mr. Cross 

 says he always has his hands pretty 

 full with these little singers during that 

 season. Though he does not get as 

 much for taking care of the smaller 

 birds, they are really more trouble, as 

 they are not so easily handled as the 

 parrots and have less intelligence to 

 aid in pulling them around. 



[During my short residence in Chi- 

 cago in '93-4 I became well acquainted 

 with Mr. Cross (his store being but a 

 block from mine) and must say he has 

 a very complete knowledge of the dis- 

 eases of birds. — Ed. 



