96 



lived in perfect health : when at last it met with a 

 violent death it was found to be free from an}^ disease 

 either tuberculous or otherwise, as apparent to both 

 the naked e3'e and the microscope. So much for the 

 susceptibility of birds to tuberculosis, the disease 

 which we are told is so highl}^ contagious, or as I 

 would prefer to say — infectious. Another point of 

 interest is that nearly a year before it was killed it 

 was fed for a couple of months on that terrible poison, 

 inga seed, and was yet found to be free of any disease 

 whatever. I may here say that I was not surprised 

 at this; I have made and am still making many 

 observations in this direction, as a result of which 

 I do not share the opinion of those who condemn 

 the use of this seed. Of this more anon. 



(To be. co7iihmed.) 



ITbc IPaet, IPrc6cnt, anC) ^future, of tbc 

 mational Bntieb Bu^ & riDulc Club. 



By the late PkrEGRINE Bat^t.. 



-•-p^HE present Club was founded in 1896, and at its 

 ' I ^ formation included a large number of those 

 r--L^ who had previoush'' composed " The British 

 Bird Club," which had been brought into 

 existence a few years before by such enthusiastic 

 fanciers as the late Dr. Bradburn, Mr. Charles Houlton, 

 and others then well known. Some of these are still 

 with us, others have gone over to the majority, and I 

 am sorry to say that some have severed their con- 

 nection with the Club for various reasons best known 

 to themselves. 



There is no doubt that the original Club would 

 have continued to exist and flourish had the members 

 been lo\'al to it. It suffered from a common disease of 

 Clubs— want of energy on the part of the members. 



