188 Correspondence. 



" this labor of love." At any rate there he was with head erect, 

 accompanied with slight rapid movements, uttering a low, continuously 

 repeated call note; both wings outstretched, with quick, yet lightly 

 flapping movements; the plumes beautifully and fully displayed in 

 crescentic form from the mantle; then after a few moments, he 

 would uttei a few shrill call notes, a decided caw(-caw, quickly 

 repeated, with rapid movements and quite a little war dance along 

 the perch, he threw his head right back almost touching the 

 mantle, and with hody quite rigid, as though seized with an 

 apoplectic seizure, during which he held the perch tightly witb 

 his claws, he gave vent to his highly pitched call notes, and swaying 

 his body, the beautiful delicate plumes fell all around him, showing 

 to the fullest advantage the exquisite filigree slenderness of 

 each separate plume. Regaining the former position, it again repeats 

 the flapping of the wings, the display of the plumes, and low, 

 oft repeated call, or cawing. 



I am indeed proud of what I have nQaa to-day. I wish 

 an abler pen than mine could have described, in fuller and more 

 minute detail the sight. Eough as my notes are, they were taken 

 during the display, and, though somewhat crudely expressed, they 

 are accurate. 



O. iMILLSUM. 

 Everberg, June 2nd. 



Post Mortem Reports. 



Vide Rules. 



Hen Black Tanageb. (Mrs. Scott, Birdhurst, Woodcote Road, 

 Wallington, Surrey). The liver and kidneys were of a yellowish 

 colour, and had undergone fatty degeneration. The brain was con- 

 gested. Evidently death was due to the fit, with which the bird 

 was seized. The diseased state of the liver and kidneys would, 

 no doubt, set up the convulsions, which are a common ending of 

 many bird maladies. 



Cock Blub Budgbeigae. (Mr. S. Beaty, Strathnarn, Elm 

 Grove, Alderley Edge, Cheshire). This bird was during life aflfected 

 with diarrhoea, which was in this case, symptoma,tic of catarrhal 

 inflammation of the bowel, probably induced by a chill. 



Cock Blue Tanagee. (Mrs. E. Travis, Pedmore Grange, 

 Stourbridge). This bird's intestine was immensely distended by foeces, 

 which gave t'ae abdomen an enlarged appearance. There was also 

 peritonitis, which had glued the c6ils of the intestine together. The 

 liver had yeUowish patches of fatty degeneration. 



(Continued on page 45 of Inset) 



