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fight. The end of these last would only be affected in 

 point of time b}- the administration of egg, that is to 

 say they would die equally with and without it: in the 

 case of the middle division the giving or with- 

 holding of egg food is just the last straw in the 

 determination of the issue : while those birds, who 

 constitute the first and emphatically much the smallest 

 section, would probably be able of their own inherent 

 and individual strength to withstand its influence, 

 some for a time, some for perhaps always. These 

 birds are the analogue of my friend who, though 

 exposed for twenty-five years :o the terrors of West 

 Africa, yet has all along been in perfect health, and 

 is so still. But I have so far come across no one who 

 points to him as a "proof" that West Africa is a 

 health resort for white people, whereas we can all of 

 us recall those who are so wedded to the pos^ hoc 

 experience method of argument as to hold up with 

 conviction these picked birds as a " proof" that egg 

 is innocuous an:l even beneficial. 



Insectivorous birds, having always been in the 

 way of getting hold of more septic bacteria than their 

 seed-eating brethren, are more immune than they are, 

 though this natural tendency towards immunity is 

 invariably more than neutralised by the egg-food 

 which is always given to them in obedience to that 

 worst of all masters— tradition. Quite recently I had 

 sent to me for examination a splendid Wood Warbler, 

 belonging to a well-known amateur and exhibitor, a 

 member of the N. B. B. and M. C, and a person of 

 great humanity and cleanliness in the treatment of his 

 birds. This bird, which was in good condition as to 

 flesh and plumage, simply swarmed with the bacilli of 

 septic3emia,some being present even in the lungs, a very 

 unusual habitat. On enquiry I found to my surprise 

 that the owner himself had caught it only a fortnight 

 before it had come into my hands ! Here there was 



